Nepal's 3rd GSM Network to Launch Next Month

­Nepal is to get a third GSM based mobile network next month, when Nepal Satellite Telecom (NST) launches its services. The company will be focusing on the underserved rural areas first before expanding coverage to include the main urban area along the Kathmandu valley next year.

Mukti Shree Telecom, Sewa Telecom (Bangladesh), Pakistan Mobile Communication and Air Bell Company (Cyprus) are the major investors of Nepal Satellite Telecom (NST).

The company will market its services under the "Hello Nepal" brandname.

"Its services will be started from the unprofitable areas that is the reason why it is getting more facilities compared to others," Asmita Sumargi, chairman of NST told the Himalayan News Service. According to NTA, NST has Basic Telecommunication Service license under which it also has license for limited mobility service - only for landline.

The company primarily has a total investment of US$25 million and Nabil Bank and Nepal Investment Bank have provided credit facility to the company.

The country's two existing GSM networks are Spice and Nepal Telecom with 1.8 million and 2.8 million subscribers respectively. The Mobile World database notes that the country ended Q1 '09 with a population penetration level of just 15.5%/.

On the web: Himalayan News Service - Mobile World

Posted to the site on 18th September 2009