The number of landline users keeps decreasing in Nepal. NTA’s latest MIS report shows that the use of landlines has dwindled over the years. The wired device has enjoyed its heyday but in the times of portable devices, it is gradually fading out of the scene.
As per the latest MIS report, Nepal Telecom which is the only telco offering landline service has 5 lakhs, 63 thousand, and 465 customers. The number is another consistent decline since FY 075/76.
Nepal Telecom (NTC) peaked its landline customer service in 074/75 FY with 6 lakhs, 86 thousand, and 762 customers. But since then it has tumbled ever since. The next FY 075/76, NTC’s landline customers declined to 6 lakhs, 77 thousand, and 128. This was followed by another decline to 6 lakh, 64 thousand, and 342 in 076/77.
The current stats highlighting NTC’s number of landline customers is the sharpest nosedive which has decreased by 99 thousand and 877 from the previous FY.
Read: NTA terms OTT Calls (Viber Out, Skype Out) to Mobile/Landline Phones illegal
Triple Play To Rescue NTC’s Landline Service?
A landline phone is a luxury item as well as a convenience. The wired service has been a mainstay in communications for households over the years but with the sharp increase in smartphones, landline communication has been in the shadow over the years.
However, NTC has done its part to keep landline service afloat. The company has started Triple Play service bringing voice calls, fiber net, and IPTV over the single fiber cable. It has been one of the reasons for the customers to migrate to the FTTH service.
Nepal Telecom also aims to migrate its traditional telephone line to IP-based telephony to provide better services, with its TDM migration project. The state telco hopes that these initiatives will give the landline phones a vital lifeline for survival.
Despite these attempts, the numbers have not been encouraging for NTC’s landline service. As modern-day customers gravitate towards portability and convenience, traditional wired communications don’t meet today’s demands.
The ability to carry a mobile phone, accessing high-speed broadband, Video calls, HD voice from VoLTE, are key reasons, customers will hesitate to resort to landlines for communications.
Check out: NTC’s Internet Subscribers reach 2 crores, With 5 Lakhs VoLTE Users
Landline service has certainly passed its glory days but it is still widely. Being a legacy system, it still works flawlessly and offers a great voice call quality. It has formed an emotional attachment with us for communication since we ever learned calling.
Despite the gradual decline of landline hones, they still remain a mainstay in many households, businesses and with Triple Play and upcoming IP telephony, they might be the wired option for voice calls for long into the future.
Check out: Nepal Telecom landline Phone: Cost, Connection Process, Transfer
How often do you resort to landline phones for calling? Should they still be around for communications or do we need to move on? Do share your opinions with us in the comments.
