- by Republica
Ncell is the first privately owned GSM operator in Nepal. Re-branded as Ncell from Mero Mobile on March 12, 2010, the company broke the monopoly of the then state-owned telecommunications company, Nepal Telecom, by aggressively expanding telecommunications services across the country. On April 12, 2016, Ncell officially became a part of Axiata Group Berhad -- a Malaysian telecommunications group. However, the transition has not been very smooth for the largest taxpayer in the country. Nevertheless, Ncell is moving ahead under the leadership of Managing Director Simon Perkins. Perkins talked with Republica's Kuvera Chalise, Sujan Dhungana and Santosh Neupane about the not so warm welcome in Nepal and various issues surrounding the company, its expansion and future plans.