Science & Technology

Nepal Telecom started the trial of 5G technology, albeit limiting that to its employees at two of its Kathmandu offices. 

After several delays due to technical issues, the state-owned telecom company launched the testing on Sunday, coinciding with the company's 19th anniversary.

The tests were launched at NT offices at Babarmahal and Sundhara in Kathmandu. The NT previously shelved its plan to launch 5G in January, citing fewer 5G-capable phones on its network.

Nepal Telecommunication Authority (NTA), the telecom regulatory body in Nepal, granted Nepal Telecom to test the 5G network limited to 2600 MHz. The bandwidth which lies in lower mid-band frequency is rarely supported by phones by Chinese manufacturers. 

Spokesperson for the Nepal Telecom Shovan Adhikari had told NepalMinute that they would start the test once they ascertained the number of devices capable of running on 2600 MHz.

The 5G equipment is a part of the same contract that the NT has on the 4G equipment and will "not cost anything extra", the NT official confirmed.

According to Adhikari, the state-run telecom has no right to test on other frequencies without acquiring permission from NTA. 

The telecom, which has 11,550,000 4G users, plans to gradually deploy 5G test equipment to cities in each province as the number of devices gets satisfactory. 

Also read: All you need to know about Nepal Telecom’s 5G plans