There should be healthy competition among telcos- Comm. Minister Timilsina

Last Updated on August 19, 2026

Nepal’s communication minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina has said that telecom companies should operate services in a professional manner, complying fully with the country’s regulatory framework.

In a meeting with Ncell’s Chief Regulatory and Corporate Services Officer Dilli Ram Shrestha at the ministry on Tuesday (August 18, 2026), the minister stressed that the government is committed to making Nepal’s telecom sector clean, transparent and competitive.

The minister made it clear that the government is ready to provide any necessary support to companies as per the existing laws and regulations.
Ncell issues will be studied closely- Minister Timilsina

Minister Timilsina said that past disputes and legal issues concerning Ncell will be studied in a transparent manner. He also said that coordination between the government, regulatory bodies and service providers is necessary to create a clean and healthy environment for the industry.

He said that it is the responsibility of the government and the regulatory bodies to address past shortcomings and develop the necessary systems to prevent such problems from recurring in the future.

✅ Steps to Transfer Balance in Ncell

Ncell license issues will be assessed

Minister Timilsina said that the government will carry out the process of Ncell’s share ownership transfer and license expiration as per the existing laws of the country. There’s been a great debate regarding the ownership of Ncell.

Recently, the government released the investigation committee’s report on Ncell’s share transfer between Axiata and Spectrlite Ltd. Ncell has contested that decision, arguing that publishing the report violated its right to privacy. As of now, the Supreme Court of Nepal has also issued an interim order on the government not to publish the report. The company reaches 25 years in service in 2029.

During the meeting, Ncell’s Chief Regulatory and Corporate Services Officer Shrestha briefed the Minister about the various initiatives being taken by the company to improve its operations and services, network quality, and business systems.

Shrestha expressed gratitude for the support received from the Ministry to implement the subscription-based pricing model, which has been demanded by the industry for a long time to further modernize services and pricing for customers. He said that the shift from the traditional pay-as-you-go system to a subscription-based model will help modernize customer service.

Ncell also appreciated the Ministry’s initiative to advance the Mobile Broadband Enhancement Plan, i.e., Nepal’s 5G Roadmap. Shrestha expressed his commitment to Ncell’s continued support in Nepal’s digital transformation and broadband expansion goals.

Ncell demands a level-playing field

On regulatory matters, Ncell stressed the need to ensure a level playing field for all telcos in Nepal. Ncell said that a predictable and equitable regulatory environment is necessary for healthy competition and continued investment in the industry.

Shrestha also requested the ministry’s support for approving Ncell’s share transfer transaction. He said that if the approval is received in a timely manner, it will help in the company’s continued investment and operational stability.

Ncell is committed to providing quality services

Ncell has said that it is committed to improving its quality of services across the country. The telco requested additional frequencies to improve its network capacity, reliability, and overall network quality.

The meeting also had the presence of Joint Secretaries of the Ministry Uday Bahadur Rana Magar and Gaurav Giri and Under Secretary of the Legal Branch Rajesh Kumar Thapa.

The meeting discussed Ncell’s operational and regulatory issues, development of a competitive environment in the telecommunications sector, improvement of network quality, need for additional spectrum, 5G development, and the company’s pending share transfer.

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