This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 8/2/2019

Overview

Telecommunications services have experienced significant growth over the last decade.  Currently, six companies provide telephone services in Nepal, with the government-owned Nepal Telecom (NT) and Malaysian-owned NCell as the biggest operators.  Both NT and NCell, like their smaller competitors, are expanding their geographical reach and range of services and offer equipment sales potential.  Business opportunities exist for equipment sales, network installation, and laying fiber optic cable.  Additionally, NCell is investing millions of dollars per year to upgrade its infrastructure; however, equipment sales with after-sale service are a prerequisite for the project.  Local microwave and cable TV services depend on U.S. firms for much of their equipment, as do Kathmandu’s 22 satellite/cable TV networks.
 
Exports/Imports of Telecommunications Equipment (U. S. $ thousands)

 

2014

2015

2016

2017 (Estimated)

Total Local Production

0

0

0

0

Total Exports

0

0

0

0

Total Imports

288,371.14

264,185.32

355,856.72

 

Imports from the US
 

5,019.80

2,506.06

1,853.87

 

Total Market Size

288,371.14

264,185.32

355,856.72

 

Exchange Rates

98.55

99.79

106.65

107.92

(total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)
 

Leading Sub-Sectors

Satellite services for phone and Internet
Fiber optic cables
VHF radio, transmitter, and other equipment

Opportunities

The number of cellular mobile subscribers has increased from 243,579 in January 2005 to over 37 million by April 2018.  Chinese companies have won bids to supply technology and equipment to the two leading Nepali cellular telephone operators (NT and NCell), but the expanding mobile phone market offers additional possibilities for U.S. companies.  U.S. companies might also consider entering the market as a cellular phone service operator under a joint venture partnership with one of the existing operators.

Web Resources

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.