• Ntc
  • Ncell
  • Samsung
  • Apple
  • Xiaomi
  • 2G to 5G
  • ISP
  • NTA
  • Tariffs
  • About us
Saturday, August 23, 2025
NepaliTelecom
  • Home
  • Telecom News
    • News
    • NTA
    • Ntc
    • Ncell
    • Smart Cell
    • Digital Nepal
  • Gadgets
  • How To
  • Editors’ Pick
  • Contact
  • About
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Telecom News
    • News
    • NTA
    • Ntc
    • Ncell
    • Smart Cell
    • Digital Nepal
  • Gadgets
  • How To
  • Editors’ Pick
  • Contact
  • About
No Result
View All Result
NepaliTelecom
No Result
View All Result

Government To Take Over Smart Cell, Auction Off its Assets

Dinesh by Dinesh
March 29, 2023
in Smart Cell, Smart Telecom, Telco News
Reading Time: 3 mins read

Telecom regulator Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) could soon complete a takeover of Smart Cell after the latter has failed to pay off its dues to the government. The authority is now making the necessary preparation to acquire the failed private operator as it remains close to losing its unified license.

Gokarna Sitaula, one of the board members, is to coordinate a 5-member team to complete a takeover of the telco.

Smart has long struggled to keep its finances stable which has also affected its service delivery. Already low in coverage, the company has presumably stopped its services in many parts of the country. We have covered a post on Smart’s network disappearance in many areas in Nepal. The telco has reasoned that it’s due to the maintenance work but it’s all pointing to its financial struggles.

Smart Cell has Rs 30 billion to clear off

Smart Cell has failed to pay off its huge sum of arrears to the authority. Likewise, the decade-long deadline to clear its bills is ending this Chaitra. Under various headings such as Rural Telecommunication Development Fund (RTDF), royalty, frequency charges, and fines, the private telco’s total payable amount reaches Rs 30 billion. Reportedly, it also has bank loans in the region of around Rs 7 billion.   

On previous occasions, the company saved its existence due to the reprieve from the existing provisions including the clemency from the Council of Ministers. It sought for lenient payment facility in the past but chances for such favor are extremely low now.

NTA’s telecommunication act, of 2053 holds that a telecom operator must submit an application to the authority including the charges within a fixed timeframe. Failing to do so means NTA will terminate the company’s license. The regulation is found in the act’s section 25 (5).

After the takeover, the company has to hand over its assets to the authority. This includes land, buildings, equipment, and other infrastructures to the authority.

Also read: Telecom Companies Could Also Merge, NTA Passes Regulations

Smart Cell’s assets to go under the hammer

As per the Telecommunications Act 2053, after the company Smart Telecom’s license is revoked, according to Rule 18 of the Property Management Regulations of Telecommunications Service Providers 2079, all assets and telecommunications infrastructure, structures, telecommunications systems, and Telecommunications Authority will be taken over by NTA.

To issue a new license, the infrastructure, structure, telecommunication system, telecommunication network, and property of Smart Telecom will be sold through an auction. In the meantime, the government’s pricing committee will determine the price. This scenario raises the stakes for CG’s much-talked possibility of getting the unified license to start its telecom service. Read this: Is CG Telecom Getting Smart Cell’s Frequencies?

Additionally, the salary of its employees, allowance, savings fund, and other benefits of workers and employees, bank loans taken as property mortgage or mortgage, rent or lease of houses, land, devices, equipment, and other assets will also come under assessment.

Telecom Towers Kathmandu
Smart’s cell tower stands in close proximity to Ntc, and Ncell’s

The committee will assess the valuation of Smart Cell in six months. After it, it will submit the report to the authority.

Smart Cell provides 4G and 2G services and has over 1.07 lakh user base. Its losing the license could, directly and indirectly, benefit Chaudhary Group which has been waiting for years to get its own to start a “Jio-like revolution in Nepal. Do you use Smart Cell service? If you do, then do share with us how you feel about its painful state in the comments below.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Viber to get the latest news, and information about Nepal Telecom, Ncell, Smart Cell, ISPs, mobile apps, and phones in Nepal.

Latest Posts

  • Smartphone imports in Shrawan FY 2082/83: Rs 3.41 arba
  • Nepal Telecom to announce a tender for NT TV operation
  • WorldLink launches ‘NetTV Premium’ at Rs 50 a month
  • ISPs warn internet price rise after pole rental hiked
  • Dish Home Father’s Day Offer: A DH 4K streamer for free
  • Redmi Note 15 Pro 5G launched with 7000mAh battery
  • Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus 5G launched with satellite messaging
Comments
Previous Post

Manoj Thapa, CEO of Janaki Technology, SPARROW SMS, receives Professional Excellence Award

Next Post

WorldLink Free WiFi Express Hotspots in more than 14000 locations

Dinesh

Dinesh

An experienced tech writer covering news mostly on telecommunication, internet, latest tech & trends, and Gadgets. Being a technophile, I am particularly fascinated by the evolution of mobile networks in Nepal from legacy networks (2G, 3G) to 4G (with VoLTE, VoWiFi, eSIM) and the prospects of the upcoming 5G, and equally enthralled by the development of internet from the dial-up connection to the 2 Gbps XGS-PON fiber broadband technology and their transformative impact in the country.

Related Posts

4G users in Nepal Ntc Ncell
4G Nepal

4G users in Nepal: 2.56 crores | Latest NTC, Ncell figures

July 31, 2025
Unauthorized use of Frequency Nepal
NTA - Nepal Telecommunication Authority

NTA appeals to only use allocated frequency with permission

June 19, 2025
Free Wifi affecting Telco revenues
ISP

ISP’s free WiFi Hotspot causes telcos a loss of Rs 14 billion a year

June 20, 2025
Load More

You may also read

Ntc FTTH

Nepal Telecom Fiber Internet: Price, Speed, Offer, Packs [2025]

April 16, 2025
Expected Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus 5G price in Nepal

Redmi Note 15 Pro Plus 5G launched with satellite messaging

August 22, 2025
how to check Ntc Ncell number owner name and transfer ownership

How to check Ntc, Ncell number owner name & Transfer Ownership

August 18, 2025

How to identify Ntc Ncell Smart Hello mobile numbers? [2025]

January 28, 2025
Ntc Namaste Wifi service with 4G LTE router

Namaste Wifi | Ntc’s Wireless Broadband with 4G Router [2025]

August 17, 2025
Nepal Telecom Ntc data pack

Latest Ntc Data Pack [2025] Price, Volume, Validity, Process

August 18, 2025
NepaliTelecom

Nepalitelecom.com is a website/blog which provides information regarding telecommunication in Nepal along with Gadgets and has been doing some research for the telecom market in Nepal. We intend to do more of such survey/research in the Nepalese Telecom sector.

SiteMap

📢 Follow us on Viber to get the latest news, and information about Nepal Telecom, Ncell, ISPs, mobile apps, and phones in Nepal.

Popular Categories

Ntc | Ncell | Telco News | ISP | NTA | Gadgets

Recent Posts

  • Smartphone imports in Shrawan FY 2082/83: Rs 3.41 arba
  • Nepal Telecom to announce a tender for NT TV operation
  • WorldLink launches ‘NetTV Premium’ at Rs 50 a month

© 2025 Nepalitelecom

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Telco News
  • Gadgets Nepal
  • Nepal Telecom
  • Ncell
  • Digital Nepal
  • How To
  • Editors’ Pick

© 2025 Nepalitelecom