KATHMANDU, Sept 15: Nepalis have been paying an average of Rs 104.53 for 1 GB mobile data use, which is quite expensive in the local currency measure, compared to other countries.
A report titled ‘Worldwide mobile data pricing’ published by the Cable UK that comprises the study of 128 countries across the globe has unveiled the fact. Mostly the African countries along with a number of South American countries have rates higher than that of Nepal.
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The people of Lao pay the highest of more than 37,000 Lao Kip, the local currency, to purchase 1 GB mobile data plan. Indians pay INR 6.66 for the package, one of the cheapest in the world.
The cost in Nepal however has reduced to almost half compared to the rate of last year. As per the report, Nepalis had been paying an average of Rs 256.53 for 1 GB mobile data till 2019.
Min Prasad Aryal, spokesperson for Nepal Telecommunications Authority, said that the regulator has been trying to reduce the cost in order to increase the people’s access to the internet. According to him, the cost will fall even more with the expansion of the 4G services in the country with increased competition among the telecommunication service providers.
Currently, the state-owned Nepal Telecom (NT) and a number of private companies including Ncell are offering 4G services in the country. Recently, these companies have aggressively expanded their services with installation of necessary infrastructure in all 77 districts. According to the NT’s records, there are more than 4.1 million people using 4G services provided by the government-owned enterprise.
