Various mobile and digital service providers including Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell paid over Rs 3.5 billion in frequency fees to Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA). In total, 12 companies paid their frequency charges for the last Fiscal Year FY 2079/80.
According to the latest NTA report, service providers paid a total of Rs 3 billion, 502 million, 675 thousand, and 780. However, the figure fell slightly below in comparison to the previous FY 2078/79 where it stood at Rs 3 billion, 523 million, 380 thousand, and 265. This reflects a decrease of a total of Rs 20 million, 774 thousand, and 485 or by 0.59%.
| Frequency fee FY 2079/80 | Frequency Fee 2078/79 | Difference |
| Rs 3,502,675,780 | Rs 3,523,380,265 | Rs 20,774,485 (0.59%) ↓ |
Check out: Find the Radio Frequency Policy for Telecom Services 2080
Ncell paid more in frequency fees than Ntc to NTA FY 2079/80
On the list of the leaderboards, the private telecom operator Ncell stood atop in terms of paying the highest frequency fee to the regulator, NTA. The telco which has recently seen its previous owner Axiata exit, paid Rs 1 billion, 880 million, 902 thousand, and 500 in frequency charges. The state-backed telecommunication giant Nepal Telecom (Ntc) submitted Rs 1 billion, 621 million, 499 thousand, and 980. As it stands, Ncell seems to have invested Rs 259 million, 402 thousand, and 520 more than its sole competitor for mobile services.
| Ntc frequency fee FY 2079/80 | Ncell frequency Fee 2079/80 | Difference |
| Rs 1,621,499,980 | Rs 1,880,902,500 | 259,402,520↓ |
Similarly, Constellation Pvt. Ltd. Paid Rs 120 thousand (1.20 lakh) in frequency charges in FY 2079/80. Likewise, I4 Technology Pvt. Ltd. turned in Rs 64 thousand for the same. Nepal’s only satellite internet service provider Everest Link Pvt. Ltd. Paid Rs 55 thousand for the radio waves. The list also shows hydroelectricity companies such as Bhote Koshi and Butwal Power Company Ltd. paying Rs 1 thousand each.
Ntc and Ncell paid over Rs 3.5 billion in frequency fees in FY 2079/80 which accounts for an overwhelming majority of the total amount received by NTA
In the meantime, Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. filed Rs 6 thousand in the same year for frequency payment. While mobile service providers such as Ntc and Ncell use frequency for 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G wired and other wireless services, radio, banks, and other companies also require these resources to connect with their servers and stay operational. For e.g., banks need frequency so as to operate ATM machines among other digital services.
Don’t miss: Frequency bands in Nepal for Mobile 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G | Cellular Spectrum
12 service providers paid NTA their frequency fee in FY 2079/80
Below is the list of all the 12 service providers who paid frequency fees to NTA in FY 2079/80.
| SN | Service providers | Frequency fee |
| 1 | Nepal Doorsanchar Company Limited. (Nepal Telecom) | 1,621,499,980.32 |
| 2 | Ncell Axiata Limited, Kathmandu | 1,880,902,500.00 |
| 3 | Mercantile Communications Pvt. Ltd. | 6,000.00 |
| 4 | SITA BV | 1,000.00 |
| 5 | Butwal Power Company Limited | 1,000.00 |
| 6 | Bhote Koshi Power Company Limited | 1,000.00 |
| 7 | Nepal Investment Bank Limited | 23,000.00 |
| 8 | I4 Technology Pvt. Ltd. | 64,000.00 |
| 9 | Constellation Pvt.Ltd | 120,000.00 |
| 10 | SSVC Radio Kathmandu Pvt. Ltd. | 1,300.00 |
| 11 | Eco Smart Pvt. Ltd. | 1,000.00 |
| 12 | Everest Link Pvt.Ltd | 55,000.00 |
| Total | 3,502,675,780 |
Every year, service providers pay frequency fees to NTA. The amount varies depending on the services they provide (if technology neutrality implemented or not) and the amount of spectrum bandwidth. Nepal Telecom and Ncell, being Nepal’s largest telecom service provider regularly pay the huge frequency fees to the regulator.
