Last Updated on December 8, 2025
Nepal’s leading private telco, Ncell, has stated the 971 number SIM card from Mangsir 22, 2082. Users can now buy and use Ncell SIM card beginning with this very number.
Ncell says that its previous ranges 980, 981, 982, and 970 were “insufficient to continue issuing new SIM cards to customers.”
Upanga Dutta, Chief Consumer Business Officer of Ncell, thanked NTA for the approval to issue the new number range. She shared that the new numbers will benefit services beyond telecom, including digital transactions. She said, “We are thankful to the NTA for granting approval for this new number range, keeping the market situation in mind. After completing the necessary preparations, we started issuing new numbers under this range. At a time when the use of mobile phones has expanded beyond basic communication to include digital transactions and access to various services, these new numbers will benefit both consumers and various service providers.”
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Ncell 971 number SIM available
According to Ncell, the new number range 971 SIM card is now available across Nepal. Chances are if you go and buy a new Ncell SIM card, you will get a number starting this very first three digits. Previously, Ncell issued 970-range SIM cards.
Ncell says it obtained permission from Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to start the new number range on Jestha 14, 2082. Now, the number pattern will follow 971-xxxxxxx. In Nepal, telecom companies need to obtain permission from NTA to start a new mobile number range. In that regard, Ncell had requested NTA for the new number range, which was also approved by the authority after a regular process.
The new number range is now available for all GSM users, including regular users, corporate, and organizations.
But with the new number range, there might come some issues with receiving OTPs. Initially, there were problems with Ncell ’97’ numbers not receiving OTPs. Ncell, if this issue comes again, we will work on solving it with the service providers. But as the new number range also starts with 97 in the beginning, you may never face this problem at all.
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The telco has requested various service providers, NGOs/INGOs, banks, and financial institutions to integrate the new number in their services.
