Teledensity surges to 88.5 percent, known to cross 100 within this year.

Teledensity indicates overall telecom development of a country, which is measured as the no of phones per 100 people. According to the latest MIS report from NTA (Nepal Telecommunication Authority), Teledensity has surged to 88.5 percent in the country with the total  no of phone lines reaching 2.35 Million in which mobile alone contributes to more than 2 Million. As all of the investment and competition in telecommunication is happening in the mobile sector, the no of mobile lines are increasing  very rapidly. Government owned Nepal Telecom and Private Giant Ncell are the top two telcos that have their services all around the country, which are going fierce with the expansion of their services to vie for the top spot. Though Ncell ousts Nepal Telecom in the total no of SIM/ phone lines distributed ( 1 Million vs 1.1 Million), the comparison of active no of subscribers can only be ensured if we see the VLR (Visitor Location Register) of both the operators as VLR shows the active no. of subscribers at an instant. If we keep on analyzing Teledensity with the no of SIM/phone lines distributed, it is expected to cross 100 percent within this year. 

GSM is the most popular technology here in Nepal with almost 2 million users and have a huge addition in each month whereas CDMA and Landline subscribers are growing at a very lazy rate. The internet penetration rises to 31.69 from 31 percent in the month of Chaitra, which is mainly due to the expansion of GPRS and 3G across the country by NT and Ncell. These days NT is more aggressive in expanding their network whereas Ncell is promoting their already existing network with schemes/offers. With the current trend, the internet penetration will swell to 50% within this year.

Nepal Telecom still leads over Ncell in data segment as shown in the previous month post at Nepalitelecom.com.