Nepal Telecom is expected to start testing the first 5G technology in June.
If all goes according to plan, the much-hyped 5G technology will be available for commercial use by the end of the current fiscal year in mid-July 2022, offering faster connections, higher throughput, and more capacity than the current 4G cellular network, benefiting high-traffic areas like public places.
Nepal now has 4G networks, which were launched in January 2017.
In February of last year, Nepal’s telecom regulator, the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), presented a request to the National Frequency Determining Committee to allow 5G to operate in the country.
The NTA will grant spectrum to telecom providers at no cost for one year to conduct 5G experiments, with no charges to users during that time.
Meanwhile, Ncell, a private telecom provider, has applied to conduct 5G testing, but the NTA has yet to react.