Nepal’s leading telco, Ncell, is about to distribute new mobile numbers in the range of 971. In its presser, the company stated that it will start issuing the new range of mobile numbers from July 31, 2025.
The company currently issues 970 range numbers. But it has proved insufficient to meet the customer demands. This is why the company has announced that it will start selling mobile number that starts with 971.
The telco says that its decision to bring the new mobile range into operation complies with the regulations set by the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).
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Ncell has received permission for its 971 range mobile numbers
Ncell says that it has received permission from NTA to use its 971 mobile number range. The company has previously used 980, 981, 982, and the current 970 range phone numbers. But as users grow and so does the demand for new numbers, and more number ranges need to be issued. In Nepal, telecom companies require approval from the NTA to issue mobile numbers in new ranges.
According to the private telco, it’s been allocated new mobile numbers in accordance with the NTA’s National Numbering Allocation Plan. The policy has it that each number range in Nepal is entitled to 10 million unique mobile numbers.
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Ncell wants swift user experience with OTP
Whenever there’s a new mobile number range, there comes a possible issue of One-Time Passwords (OTPs). To be exact, the issue is that users do not get OTPs on their new range mobile number. Previously, Ncell requested service providers to provide OTP codes in the 970 range. This time again, the telco has tried to make things easier for its new numbers.
In its statement, the telco has requested service providers, government and non-government organizations, private companies, banks, and financial institutions (BFIs) to acknowledge the number and facilitate the OTP process on their new numbers for seamless customer service.
The telco adds that mobile numbers are not just for telecom services; they are also used for OTPs, signing up, verification of apps, web-based services, digital payments, etc. As Ncell has already requested cooperation for OTP on its new numbers, there may not be prolonged issues this time. Let’s expect that.
But Ncell requiring another number range to meet customer demand also sheds insight into a familiar user practice. In Nepal, mobile subscribers often keep primary and secondary SIM cards. Many also forsake their SIM cards after a while and buy another, which does raise the figure of mobile service users, but that’s not an organic tally. NTA should make better provisions to address that.
Anyway, Ncell is issuing new numbers in its 970 range, and let’s hope that there won’t be any issues with OTP reception. If you are into virtual SIM, then find out how you can get an Ncell eSIM online.
