With Nepal’s two major telecom companies Nepal Telecom (NT) and Ncell providing 3G technology based data card service, the Nepali people are benefiting from high speed internet access of up to 3.6 Mbps.
The 3G data card service offers fast data transmission speed, greater network capacity and more advanced network services. Ncell launched its 3G data card service called Ncell Connect in September last year.
“We have been receiving very good response from customers about our high speed internet service Ncell Connect,” said Pasi Koistinen, CEO of Ncell. He added that as Ncell had successfully tested upgrading the speed, they are waiting for a favourable time to upgrade the speed up to 7.2 Mbps.
NT launched its 3G data card service in early May this year. The high speed internet access allows you to watch videos online like real time TV. According to NT, the data card has been specially designed for high speed internet. Currently, NT has been providing the service in Kathmandu, Lumbini, Pokhara and Banepa. “It has not been long that we launched the data service, however, the result has been very encouraging,” said Dinesh Panta, assistant spokesperson of NT. He added that the service was mostly being used by customers in the corporate sector.
Panta said that NT was planning to set up more BTS in the valley to expand the coverage area. NT charges Rs 300 for the service under which subscribers get a balance of Rs 100. Subscribers have to buy USB adapters from the market.
They will be able to recharge their accounts through recharge cards available in the market. The company has set the tariff for the data card service at Rs 0.15 per KB.
Ncell offers the service in three packages. The first is the small package of 500 MB designed for occasional users that costs Rs 399 (Rs 0.80 per MB). Likewise, the medium package of 1,000 MB size is designed for more frequent internet users. It is available at Rs 699 (Rs 0.70 per MB).
The large package of 5,000 MB size is for those who need to be connected to the internet all the time. The package costs Rs 1,999 (Rs 0.40 per MB).
Ncell offers 3G data card service in 14 cities and in Khumbu in the Everest region. A few months ago, a British climber had tweeted from the top of Everest using Ncell’s 3G data card. According to Ncell, many people using laptops and iPads and those needing to remain online most of the time are using Ncell’s data card service. Koistinen said that with the increasing attraction of subscribers for the data card service, the company would continue expanding the coverage area
by giving priority to high speed internet access. “Our main service is voice, however, we also focus on offering high speed internet access to our customers,” he added.
To subscribe to Ncell’s data card service, you need to buy a data SIM that costs Rs 99 (includes a starting balance of Rs 50) and a dongle or USB adapter from Ncell centres
that costs Rs 1,999. Similarly, to use NT’s data card service, customers need to buy a 3G data SIM for Rs 300 that includes a data value of Rs 100. NT does not supply the USB adapter so you have to buy one in the market and its costs Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000.
