“We will introduce our service in the mid and far western regions of the country from the next week,” Ajay Raj Sumargi, director of the company, said on Thursday.
The company announced that it will be marketing its GSM mobile under the brand name of ´Hello Nepal´. It, however, has not unveiled tariff of its mobile services.
“The rates are yet to be finalized because we are yet to get approval for the inter-connection charge. We will announce the tariffs as soon as inter-connection charge is fixed,” said Sumargi. He also elaborated that the general people will largely be able to enjoy NST´s service after Tihar festival in mid-October.
NST has obtained the operating license, setting mid-western region as its operational base. It has joint investments from Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Cyprus. Nepal´s Muktishree Telecom has 95 percent stake in the company, while Pakistan Mobile Communication and Bangladesh´s Sewa Telecom enjoy 3 percent and 2 percent stake respectively.
The company also announced that it will be investing $ 25 million for the expansion of its services in the first phase.
Sumargi, who has gained experience in telecom business during his spell at Spice Nepal, stated that the new company has technicians and professionals experienced both in the country and outside.
NST provides services in mid and far western development regions of the country that have sparse penetration of mobile services. It will be catering services to the people in 273 village development committees of the regions.
Going by the condition of Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), the company will be allowed to expand services in the other regions only after it becomes able to distribute mobile service as soon as people demands in the two regions.
The company also unveiled a slogan of ´Information and Communication, People´s Base of West Nepal´ to highlight its presence and objectives in the market. The number of Hello Mobile will start from 963 and will be of 10 digits, according to Asmita Sumargi, chairman of the company. She elaborated at a program that the company will gradually start distributing CDMA mobile service and providing international gateways.
NST officials also announced that they will expand services in the Kathmandu Valley as soon as they fulfill the distribution condition set by the NTA.
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