Ncell CEO Michael Foley has reiterated the telco’s commitment to further innovation and fostering a digital ecosystem in Nepal. Speaking at the Kantipur Conclave 2026, he expressed that the company is ready to invest 200 to 250 million in Nepal if it’s allowed to continue beyond 2029, when its 25-year license tenure expires.
Mr. Foley was speaking at a session titled “Rebuilding Economy, Restoring Confidence” at the Kantipur Conclave 2026 in Kathmandu. He shared the panel discussion with the likes of NRB Governor, Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel, Daraz MD, Aanchal Kunwar, CG Corp Global MD, Nirvana Chaudhary, FNCCI Chairman Chandra Dhakal, and Economist Nishant Khanal.
Speaking on the telco industry as a whole, he said that Nepal remains five to eight years behind the neighboring countries and more from others in telecom technologies. Foley has sought 4G quality before 5G launch and during the event, he shared Ncell’s broader ambitions for the future.
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Ncell CEO Foley shares Ncell plans at Kantipur Conclave 2026
Mr. Foley said that Ncell plans to launch 5G in Nepal, introduce gigabit per second services, and build more data centers. He opined that if the telco industry is managed well, it can significantly contribute to education, health, employment, entrepreneurship, etc.
Ncell first obtained its telco license in 2004, and it’s set to expire in 2029. Nepal’s Telco Act, 1997, holds that a telecom company with foreign investment can only operate for 25 years. Afterwards, it comes under state ownership. If that occurs, Ncell’s assets, such as towers, telco equipment, etc., will go into government ownership. Speaking about it, Mr. Foley stated that Ncell seeks to stay in Nepal.
“We want to be here, we have the ability to invest significantly, we have an unleveraged balance sheet in the company. We are prepared to invest 200-250 million dollars to bring our telecommunication infrastructure up to the standard it should be.”
He also touched upon the recent unrest in Nepal. Ncell suffered heavy vandalism during a Gen Z protest back in September. Mr. Foley stressed that those events don’t define Nepal, and how Nepali society and the government address such challenges will determine the future of investments.
Ncell is a leading telecom operator in Nepal with over 46% market share in voice service based on SIM subscription. The telco has over 1.18 crore 4G users across the country. It is seeking ways beyond 4G and working on launching 5G in the country, but requires license continuation after 2029 to continue operation in Nepal.
