NTC Allowed to Sell M2M SIM Cards, to Use a New Number Range

Telecom regulator NTA has allowed operator Ntc to sell Machine-to-Machine (M2M) SIM cards. Now, the telco can distribute M2M/IoT SIM cards with a new number range.

Previously, the regulator had directed Nepal Telecom (Ntc) not to distribute M2M SIM cards. As a result, the government-backed operator had to incur losses in millions. The company had been losing revenues from a possible 4 hundred M2M/IoT SIM cards every day.

But lifting the restriction, NTA has written a letter to the operator informing that the company can proceed with selling M2M SIM cards.

Also see: NTA To Regulate IoT/M2M Services in Nepal

The SIM cards will be sold adhering to the National Numbering Plan. Ntc will use a new number range for the device-to-device Sim cards.

Joint spokesman of Ntc Ranjit Lohiya said, “NTA sent us a letter and allocated a new number range. We will use the very number range and sell M2M SIM cards.”

Ntc has so far sold over seventy thousand M2M SIM cards. As per the reports, the company lost Rs 5 crore after NTA barred it from selling those SIM cards. The regulator prohibited Ntc from selling M2M SIM cards from Chaitra last year.

Also see: NTA Allows M2M SIM Cards for CAAN and DHM

What are M2M SIM cards and where are they used?

M2M is unlike regular SIM cards used on smartphones. M2M Sim establishes communication only between the devices or machines. Data is shared between the devices or software that uses them. In a traditional SIM card, the data is shared between a device and a transmission tower then it’s sent to another device.

M2M SIM cards are used in IoT devices which is why the M2M SIM card is also called IoT SIM Card.

Smart Meters, vehicle tracking, home appliances, equipment used in the hospital, manufacturing industry, etc. use M2M/IoT SIM Cards.

Check out: Internet of things (IoT) in Nepal

If you want to know more about M2M/IoT SIM cards, do let us know in the comments below.