Telecom Operators Begin Phasing Out 3G Services in Nepal, Users Can Upgrade 4G

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s major telecom operators have started gradually shutting down third-generation (3G) mobile services as they shift their focus toward expanding and strengthening fourth-generation (4G) networks.

State-owned Nepal Telecom and private telecom operator Ncell are moving ahead with a phased 3G shutdown plan, aiming to utilize available spectrum and network resources for improving 4G capacity, enhancing Voice over LTE (VoLTE) services, and preparing for future 5G deployment.

According to Nepal Telecom spokesperson Kamal Lamichhane, the company is discontinuing 3G services based on geographical clusters. A dedicated committee under the Wireless Service Directorate has been formed to oversee the process.

Nepal Telecom has identified nearly 2,960 sites out of around 3,000 telecom sites across the country for 3G phase-out. Around 40 sites have already stopped providing 3G services.

The company is currently testing the 3G shutdown process in a selected cluster in Chitwan. After successfully completing the pilot phase, Nepal Telecom plans to gradually discontinue 3G services nationwide within the upcoming fiscal year, Lamichhane said.

He said voice calls can continue through 2G, 3G, or 4G networks, but 4G provides significantly better data performance compared to 3G. Therefore, many countries around the world have already started removing older-generation networks and focusing on 4G and 5G technologies.

“Voice services can operate on different generations of networks, but data quality is much better on 4G. Globally, operators are moving away from 3G and 2G networks and focusing on advanced technologies,” Lamichhane said.

Nepal Telecom currently has around 600,000 customers still using 3G services. The company is gradually migrating these users to 4G networks.

The telecom operator has been providing free SIM upgrades for customers using 3G SIM cards for the past six to seven years. Customers who want to upgrade their SIM cards can do so free of cost by visiting Nepal Telecom service centers.

“Customers who are still using 3G SIMs can request a free SIM replacement. We are also sending internal notifications to customers who need to upgrade and conducting awareness campaigns,” Lamichhane said.

For SIM replacement, customers can visit the nearest Nepal Telecom office with government-issued identification documents, including citizenship certificates, national identity cards, passports, driving licenses, or other valid identification documents.

Following the 3G shutdown, telecom operators will mainly provide 2G and 4G services while continuing preparations for commercial 5G services.

Telecom companies have said the decision to discontinue 3G is driven by the technology’s limited bandwidth capacity, slower data speeds, and inefficient use of network resources. The freed spectrum will be used to expand 4G capacity, improve VoLTE quality, and support future 5G services.

The companies believe the transition will provide customers with faster internet speeds, better voice quality, and more stable network performance.

Nepal Telecom currently operates 3G services using the 2100 MHz spectrum. The company has already expanded 4G services to around 750 local government units and plans to extend coverage to all local levels while improving service quality.

Ncell Also Accelerates 3G Shutdown

Private telecom operator Ncell has also accelerated its 3G phase-out process. The company announced that it has started shutting down 3G services from more than 220 towers located in various local levels across 13 districts in five provinces from July 6.

Earlier, Ncell had already discontinued 3G services in some areas of Koshi Province.

In the latest phase, Ncell is removing 3G services from several local levels in Udayapur, Sankhuwasabha, Dhankuta, and Bhojpur districts of Koshi Province. Similarly, 3G services are being phased out in areas of Saptari in Madhesh Province, Rukum West and Salyan in Karnali Province, Rukum East and Rolpa in Lumbini Province, and Makwanpur in Bagmati Province.

Ncell’s Chief Network Officer Lena Keshari Kansakar said the company is shutting down 3G as part of its commitment to adopting new technologies and continuously improving service quality.

According to Ncell, only around 0.7 percent of its total 14.1 million active customers are currently using 3G services. The company aims to completely shut down its 3G network within the first three months of 2027.

“After shutting down 3G, the spectrum currently used for this service will be utilized for 4G. This will help provide faster mobile data and high-quality voice services through VoLTE,” Kansakar said.

Ncell has already expanded its 4G network coverage to around 95 percent of Nepal’s population. The company said customers will continue receiving voice services through 2G and 4G networks even after the 3G shutdown.

The company has urged remaining 3G users to upgrade their SIM cards to 4G free of cost and activate VoLTE services on compatible smartphones.

To use 4G services, customers need a 4G-enabled SIM card, a compatible mobile handset, and access to a 4G network.

With telecom operators moving toward the complete removal of 3G technology, Nepal’s mobile sector is entering a new phase focused on improving 4G performance and preparing for next-generation 5G connectivity.