KATHMANDU: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel on Monday visited the Ncell office in Nakkhu to assess the damage caused during the recent Gen-Z movement.
Ncell Chair Satish Lal Acharya and CEO Michael Foley welcomed the minister and briefed him about the losses sustained during the protests. Ncell’s central office in Lainchaur was vandalized, looted, and set on fire on September 9, during which the company suffered damages estimated at around Rs 650 million. Since then, Ncell has been providing services from its Nakkhu office.
After the visit, Minister Kharel said he came to gain firsthand knowledge of the damage. He expressed satisfaction upon hearing that Ncell plans to launch a special package targeting the Gen-Z demographic.
“I asked them to do something for students and Gen-Z, and they told me they will introduce a new package. They also shared plans to expand telecom access to Everest Base Camp and some remote areas,” Kharel said. He further noted that the government is ready to provide support to help Ncell recover from the substantial losses.
Ncell informed the minister that it will launch the Gen-Z targeted package and provide scholarships worth Rs 10 million for 100 students nationwide. The company also plans to expand 4G coverage in the Everest region by installing five additional towers up to Gokharshep.
The minister highlighted that the government is working to resolve some recent issues with Ncell. “Some policy-related and other disputes have arisen, but the government is confident they will be resolved legally,” he said.
CEO Michael Foley stressed that Nepal’s telecom services do not yet meet international standards and called for government facilitation. “Telecommunication has become essential for everyone, so the government must pay attention to this sector,” he said.
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