It is raining investments in Nepal telecommunications market. High on the growth potential, Nepalese telecommunications market has been attracting foreign investors, latest in the fray are the business honchos from Israel.
Israel Gilat Satellite Networks has 10% stake in Smart Telecom, that rolled out services in the country last year. Gilat offers Nepal Telecom solutions for cellular backhaul, telephony, and broadband data connectivity Nationwide
Israeli ambassador to Nepal Dan Stav has said Israeli businessmen are interested to tap Nepal´s growing telecommunication sector. The Israeli envoy also said that Nepal´s topography is more suitable for expansion and upgrading of telecommunication system.
The over six mn telephone (fixed and mobile) market, is already facing stiff competition at home. The service providers in the Himalayan State are doling out exciting offers to keep their subscribers on the network. The players are trying to give out special offers to counter pressure from the new players in the market.
NT has recently reduced its postpaid monthly charge to NRs 300. NT has its scheme Friends and Family under which postpaid mobile users can choose two GSM numbers and one PSTN number and make calls for 90 Nepali paisa per minute.
Meanwhile, Nepalese wireless operator Spice Nepal, which is owned by TeliaSonera and operates the Mero Mobile brand in the country, says it hopes to double its subscriber base to around four million by the end of this year. The Mero Mobile customers can buy a Mero SIM at Rs 350 with a talk time of Rs 350. Mero Mobile, a private service provider, gives the call made by its mobile to landline and other networks across the city within Nepal at local call rates. There is no STD charge for any calls made to mobile or landline, anywhere within Nepal. All outgoing call will be at local rates.
On the other hand, UTL, a joint venture of the India-government run MTNL and Telecommunications Consultants India, the Tatas-run Tata Communications and Nepal Venture, has not been a grand success. In 2008 the JV ran into a loss of 4.54 billion Nepali rupee due to government policies and a labour standoff.
Things may not be the same for the Israeli investors. Considering , the huge opportunity the Nepalese telecommunications market holds Israeli interest in the market is aptly timed and will help the country earn higher FDI.
heenaj@cybermedia.co.in
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