At a time when the government is preparing to launch 5G, there are still more than 10 million 3G users in Nepal.
According to the data provided by Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), there are still 10,046,000 3G users.
Although 4G has reached all 77 districts, more than 10 million users are still using 3G. Nepal Telecom launched 4G simultaneously in Kathmandu and Pokhara on January 1, 2017 and Ncell launched 4G in Kathmandu from June 2017.
State-owned Nepal Telecom, had launched 3G in 2007, the first time in South Asia.
Since telecommunication infrastructure cannot be established in all parts of Nepal, even 3G cannot be operated in any place.
Data shows 74.73 percent of Nepalese users have been using the Internet through mobile phones. In mobile broadband, 8,326,000 Nepal Telecom customers use 3G while Ncell has 2,068,000 3G users.
Among the 4G users, Nepal Telecom has 12 million and Ncell has 7.1 million 4G users and Smart Telecom has 146,000 4G users.
Three companies have a total of 18.5 million users of 4G.
In the fiscal year 2077-078 (BS), there were 1.6 million 3G users and 1.1 million 4G users. In the last one year, 3G users have decreased by only 2.6 million.
Achyutananda Mishra, co-spokesperson of NTA, said that due to the lack of 4G coverage in all places, 3G customers could not be upgraded.
"4G has reached all the districts, but in some places of Kathmandu, 4G does not work", said Mishra, "Due to the lack of infrastructure of 4G, 3G customers are more than 10 million."
He says that with the upgrading of infrastructure, 3G customers will decrease and 4G users will increase.
What is going on with 5G?
The government has given trial permission to Nepal Telecom to start 5G operation in Nepal.
The Nepal Telecom had said it would complete the test within the previous fiscal year, but all the equipment has not been imported so far.
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