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Tag: nepal

  • Nepal Telecom to launch prepaid 4G on Feb 4

    Nepal Telecom to launch prepaid 4G on Feb 4

    Nepal Telecom signed up around 40,000 LTE customers in the first 15 days since launching Nepal’s first commercial 4G network.

    The state-owned operator launched LTE services in the Kathmandu and Pokhara areas on January 1, and has seen a growing trickle of 4G subscribers, MyRepublica reported, citing comments from managing director Kamini Rajbhandari to Nepal’s parliament.

    According to the report, 4G services will be enabled for iPhones shortly, and for prepaid customers from February 4. The operator is also targeting nationwide 4G services within a year.

    But the parliamentary committee pressured the operator to address commonly-cited problems including weak network quality and credit recharge problems within a month.

    The committee also instructed Nepal Telecom to provide internet services in rural areas through the Rural Telecommunication Development Fund.

    Nepal Telecom, the Ministry of Information and Communications and regulator the Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA) have also been instructed to amend the nation’s 20 year old Telecommunications Act, as well as the 2003 Telecommunications Policy.

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  • Nepal Telecom launches 4G services

    Nepal Telecom launches 4G services

    State-owned operator Nepal Telecom has launched 4G services over the 1800-MHz band in the Kathmandu and Pokhara areas. The operator has upgraded 308 base stations in the Kathmandu area and 25 in Pokhara to support 4G services.

    Currently Nepal Telecom is only able to provide 4G using 5 MHz of 1800-MHz spectrum, limiting peak data speeds to 32.4Mbps. But the operator has asked regulator NTA for another 5 MHz, which will allow a speed increase to 100 Mbps.

    According to the report, the company is currently providing 4G data services at 3G rates – a base rate of 1 rupee ($0.0091) per megabyte – but plans to reduce the tariff shortly.

    The network is at present only available for Nepal Telecom’s GSM postpaid customers. The operator is also yet to make a deal with Apple to allow the use of iOS devices on its 4G network

    Nepal Telecom secured a 4G operating license in October, after the NTA approved the operator’s 4G application the previous month. The operator plans to progressively roll out 4G nationwide.

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  • CTG, Nepal Telecom to offer IP services in Nepal

    CTG, Nepal Telecom to offer IP services in Nepal

    China Telecom Global has teamed up with Nepal’s largest operator Nepal Telecom to jointly offer IP services to the Nepalese market.

    The companies will use the newly-launched Jilong-Rasuwa Gateway terrestrial cable linking China and Nepal to provide services to Nepal as well as transit services from India.

    The new China-Nepal route offers a new direct alternative route for traffic generated from Nepal and can provide low-latency connectivity for end-users in the market. In addition, the system could help improve Nepal’s internet connection speeds away from the capital Kathmandu.

    “China Telecom is dedicated to expanding our footprint by connecting with neighbouring countries,” China Telecom Global EVP Ou Yan said.

    “China Telecom has put tremendous effort into building the route through the Himalayas. We are committed to delivering a state of the art route for Nepal Telecom.”

    Nepal Telecom and China Telecom Global completed a project to lay fiber to the Nepal-China border in the first half of the year, setting the stage for an interconnection to China Telecom’s network.

    China Telecom Global has been aggressively pursuing international expansion this year. The operator also recently selected a data center to serve as a new hub in East Africa, connecting to its subsea cable network including the SEA-ME-WE 5.

  • Nepal Telecom receives 4G license

    Nepal Telecom receives 4G license

    Nepal Telecom has finally received a 4G operating license, clearing the company to launch services on January 1.

    Regulator the Nepal Telecommunications Authority has resolved to issue the license based on the detail rollout plan the operator submitted recently.   Nepal Telecom submitted the rollout plan after receiving initial approval for its 4G application earlier this month.

    With the decision, Nepal Telecom has become the market’s first operator to be cleared to launch 4G services. The operator will use the 1800-MHz spectrum it has been using for 2G services.

    Nepal Telecom plans to commence its rollout in the Kathmandu Valley area and Pokhara, before progressively expanding to other parts of the country.

    The operator had initially proposed to launch services on December 15, but the regulator has decided to delay the launch so the operator can smoothly complete the required preparatory works.

    Two other operators had applied for 4G licenses. One of these applications – submitted by Smart Telecom – has been rejected. The government has yet to make a decision on the second application, submitted by Ncell.

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  • Nepal Telecom’s 4G application approved

    Nepal Telecom’s 4G application approved

    State-owned operator Nepal Telecom has become the nation’s first operator to secure approval to deploy a 4G service.

    Regulator the Nepal Telecommunications Authority has asked the operator to submit a detailed 4G  rollout plan before the license is formally issued.

    The proposal will need to include a detailed work plan, including the location and date the operator plans to use to commence the service.

    Nepal Telecom has previously indicated that the operator plans to roll out services within two months of securing approval.

    But the regulator has deferred the decision whether to approve the allocation of a license to private operator Ncell due to undisclosed reasons.

    As expected, the application of a third 4G hopeful, Smart Telecom, has been rejected due to failing to meet certain required criteria.

  • Nepal set to approve 4G launches

    Nepal set to approve 4G launches

    Nepal’s telecoms regulator will soon approve two of the three applications it has received from operators seeking to operate 4G services.

    The Nepal Telecommunications Authority’s (NTA) Frequency Management Department has recommended that the regulator allow both Nepal Telecom and Ncell to launch 4G services.

    But the department rejected the proposal of a third operator, Smart Telecom, after finding that the operator failed to meet certain prerequisites. Eligibility was determined based on factors an operator’s current services and its performance under the Unified License issued to it.

    As soon as the NTA board passes the recommendation, Nepal Telecom and Ncell will be able to launch 4G services.

    The operators have been requesting to launch 4G for months, by repurposing the 1800-MHz spectrum currently being used to provide 3G services.

    But the NTA was not able to approve the proposals until the government passed amendments to the existing radio frequency policy. The ICT ministry has now endorsed the amendments to the policy.

    According to the report, Nepal Telecom has asserted it will be able to launch 4G services within two months of receiving a license.

  • Nepal Telecom revs up rollout of new services

    Nepal Telecom revs up rollout of new services

    Nepal Telecom chose Tecnotree to supply its Agility Mediation and Interconnect system, which will enable the rapid rollout of new services for the telco’s 14 million subscriber base.

    The Tecnotree Agility Mediation and Interconnect system will replace Nepal Telecom’s existing systems for GSM and other networks – and supports mobile, fixed line and broadband lines of business as well as future services.

    The solution will be delivered as a turnkey project, including complete hardware and third party software implementation.

    “By enabling the integration of new and legacy network components we are pleased to help Nepal Telecom to execute its convergence strategy and achieve its objective of complete optimized Business Support Systems,” said Padma Ravichander, CEO of Tecnotree.

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  • Nepal preparing to allocate 4G spectrum

    Nepal preparing to allocate 4G spectrum

    Nepal’s Ministry of Information and Communications is reportedly planning to amend spectrum usage policy to allow the nation’s operators to commercially launch 4G services.

    The ministry has decided to adopt a technology neutral policy to allow operators to launch 4G using the 1800-MHz spectrum band.

    The ministry had asked previously asked telecoms regulator NTA to devise a 4G action plan within a week that would involve allocating 4G spectrum by the end of the fiscal year in mid-July, the report states.

    In response the NTA appointed a consultant to determine spectrum prices, and expects to have the action plan and pricing policy ready to present by tomorrow.

    The NTA has repeatedly denied requests from operators including Nepal Telecom and Ncell to allow them to launch 4G services due to confusion over spectrum usage policy. Amending the legislation would clear up this confusion and pave the way for rollouts.

    The ministry has also asked the authority to submit a draft of a new M&A policy for telecom operators and prepare a detailed plan for the proceeds of the Rural Telecom Development Fund.

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  • Nepal Telecom lays fiber to Nepal-China border

    Nepal Telecom lays fiber to Nepal-China border

    Nepal Telecom has revealed it has completed a project to lay fiber at the Nepal-China border, paving the way for an interconnection with China Telecom.

    The company has deployed fiber from Kathmandu to the Rasuwagadhi border point via two other Nepalese districts. The deployment uses all-dielectric self-supporting (ADSS) technology, which allows fiber to be deployed without the use of a support or messenger wire to save on deployment costs.

    A spokesperson for Nepal Telecom told that the operator has already commenced installation of equipment for an interconnection with China Telecom’s extensive fiber footprint.

    This will allow the operator to directly link to the Hong Kong Data Centre – one of the two largest data centers in the Asia region – and to establish global connectivity through Hong Kong via China. The company will also connect with a hub in Singapore via India.

    Through these arrangements Nepal Telecom plans to improve the speed and increase the price of its services.

  • Axiata Group buys Nepal’s Ncell for $1.36b

    Axiata Group buys Nepal’s Ncell for $1.36b

    Malaysia-based Axiata Group has entered the Nepal telecoms market with the acquisition of the nation’s largest mobile operator Ncell.

    Axiata has paid $1.36 billion for an effective 80% stake in Ncell from previous owners TeliaSonera UTA Holdings and Reynolds Holdings’ SEA Telecom Investments.

    Local partner Sunivera Capital Ventures will retain a 20% direct stake in Ncell, as required under Nepalese law.

    Axiata group CEO Dato’ Sri Jamaludin Ibrahim commented that Ncell represents a perfect expansion opportunity for the group.

    “One key ambition we have is to effectively offer high-speed data connectivity, and exciting products and services to meet the demands of a young and maturing Nepali market,” he said.

    “There are tremendous opportunities for us to grow with the nation for the longer term. As a Group respected for its commitment to corporate responsibility and governance, we will play an integral role with the Nepali government and civil society, and contribute towards the socioeconomic development of the country and her people.”

    Axiata is already exploring synergies including opportunities to serve Nepal’s overseas foreign workers segment, which number around 1 million in Malaysia alone.

    The operator plans to launch special products for Ncell customers offering discounted prices for Ncell customers roaming within the Ncell footprint.

    Axiata Group said its combined footprint in South and Southeast Asia now covers a total population of over 2 billion.

  • Skechers to donate more than 62,000 pairs of BOBS shoes

    Skechers to donate more than 62,000 pairs of BOBS shoes

    Skechers USA Inc. will donate more than 62,000 pairs of BOBS shoes to support children affected by the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake in Nepal through charitable footwear donation program, the footwear maker said on Thursday.

    The donation will add to the company’s 11 million-pairs distributed to children in need worldwide since the BOBS charitable program launched in 2011.

    Working with donation partners K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers and Soles4Souls, more than 62,000 pairs of BOBS from SKECHERS donation shoes will be transported to Nepal to aid victims of the April 25 earthquake.

    Working with donation partners K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers and Soles4Souls, the first delivery of more than 36,000 pairs is scheduled to arrive for May distribution. As more rubble is cleared and transitional housing is established for victims of the earthquake, an additional container of 26,000-plus pairs of BOBS will arrive in Nepal for distribution in August.

    “BOBS was created as an ongoing program to help children in need around the world, but when a natural disaster strikes we need to step up even more to help families affected by these tragedies,” began SKECHERS president Michael Greenberg. “With reports of more than 300,000 homes destroyed, 16,000 people injured and thousands of lives lost, we need to do our part to help the people of Nepal rebuild. The need for food, water and shelter is critical, but shoes to protect a child’s feet can offer a feeling of comfort and safety in the midst of a chaotic disaster zone. We are happy to work with our charitable partners K.I.D.S./Fashion Delivers and Soles4Souls to transport BOBS shoes into Nepal, and we hope this donation will help thousands of children in need.”

    The BOBS donation in Nepal is Skechers’s latest contribution to help families affected by disaster. In addition to Typhoon Haiyan relief in the Philippines, the company’s previous donations have provided footwear for survivors of Hurricane Sandy in New York in 2012 and victims of the devastating Haiti earthquake in 2010. BOBS also regularly donates its product to more than 30 countries worldwide, from communities in need in the United States to families around the globe.

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  • Gap matches employees’ donations to aid group for Nepal Earthquake

    Gap matches employees’ donations to aid group for Nepal Earthquake

    Gap is matching funds of any eligible Gap employee who donates to the aid group Mercy Corps in response to the devastating earthquake that recently hit Nepal and the surrounding area, the US fashion giant said on Saturday. The disaster has injured over 8,000 people and killed more than 4,400 by Tuesday.

    “Gap Inc. and our employees extend our deepest sympathies to the victims and the families of all those affected by the devastating earthquake in Nepal, and those impacted across South Asia,” the company said in a statement.

    In respond to the concerns about whether the earthquake may have resulted in structural damage in some Bangladesh garment factories, the company said it’s working with the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety (AFBWS) on the ground, the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, and the Government of Bangladesh to ensure that all workers are safe.

    AFBWS is a group of 26 major global retailers formed to develop and launch the Bangladesh Worker Safety Initiative, a binding, five-year undertaking with the intent of improving safety in Bangladeshi ready-made garment factories after the 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse. Gap is a founding member of the group.

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