Ncell eSIM — coverage, plans & network
Nepal
Key highlights
- Nepal's largest private mobile operator, serving roughly 16 million subscribers
- Launched in 2005 as Mero Mobile; rebranded Ncell in 2010 under TeliaSonera
- Owned by Axiata from 2016 until its sale to UK-registered Spectrlite in late 2023
- Switched on a 3G base station near Everest Base Camp (~5,200 m) in 2010 — then the world's highest
- AviaeSIM prepaid travel eSIMs run on the Ncell network across Nepal
About the operator
Ncell is Nepal's largest private mobile operator, covering Kathmandu, Pokhara, the Terai cities and the main trekking gateways with 2G, 3G and 4G. It launched in 2005 as Mero Mobile, became Ncell under TeliaSonera in 2010, spent 2016–2023 in Malaysia's Axiata group, and was sold to UK-registered Spectrlite in late 2023.
Ncell competes nationwide with state-owned Nepal Telecom and serves roughly 16 million subscribers. Its network famously reached the roof of the world: in 2010 it switched on a 3G base station near Everest Base Camp, at about 5,200 metres then the highest in the world. Coverage is dense in the Kathmandu Valley and along the highways, follows the main trekking valleys, and thins out with altitude.
For travelers, AviaeSIM sells prepaid eSIMs that connect to the Ncell network across Nepal. You buy online and install by QR code before flying, so data works from Tribhuvan Airport onwards — without the in-person passport registration a local SIM requires.
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Nepal
- Network
- 2G, 3G, 4G
- Subscribers
- ~16M in Nepal
How to get the official Ncell eSIM: price, QR code, registration
Ncell sells tourist SIMs and eSIMs under the TouristPro name: Sprinter at NPR 595 for 7 days, Explorer at NPR 995 for 14 days and Voyager at NPR 1,995 for 28 days, each with unlimited data and calls under a fair-use policy (Sprinter slows after 10 GB, Explorer after 25 GB) and 100 SMS. Physical tourist SIMs are sold at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, at Ncell Centres and at authorized outlets, and you need your original passport to register the line; tourist eSIMs are offered online through Ncell's dedicated platform.
Converting an existing Ncell number to eSIM costs Rs. 100 — at an Ncell Centre with a valid document (citizenship, passport or national ID) or through an online form followed by KYC verification and a callback — and the phone must show an EID when you dial *#06# and must not be carrier-locked. AviaeSIM's prepaid travel eSIM on the Ncell network is the no-paperwork alternative: buy online before the trek, receive the QR code by email, install it at home and connect when you land in Kathmandu.
Ncell local SIM vs AviaeSIM
| Ncell TouristPro SIM / eSIM | AviaeSIM travel eSIM (Ncell network) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per GB | TouristPro packs are unlimited with a fair-use cap: NPR 595 / 7 days (slows after 10 GB), NPR 995 / 14 days (after 25 GB), NPR 1,995 / 28 days | Fixed data allowances from $3.24; the price per GB is on each plan card |
| Activation | Registered and activated at the airport counter, an Ncell Centre or online with KYC verification | QR code by email; installed in the phone's settings in about two minutes |
| Passport registration | Required — original passport for a tourist SIM; a document check for an eSIM conversion | None; only an email address at checkout |
| Validity | 7, 14 or 28 days per TouristPro pack | Fixed validity per plan, counted from the first connection in Nepal |
| Support | Ncell Centres, the Ncell app and helpline | AviaeSIM support by email, before and during the trip |
| Best for | Longer stays and a local number for calls | Short trips and trekkers who want data working on arrival |
Checked 20 September 2026 on ncell.com.np; Ncell's prices are in Nepalese rupees and change with promotions.
Network & technology
Ncell operates 2G GSM, 3G and 4G LTE, with 4G now carrying most traffic in the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and the Terai cities; Nepal has no commercial 5G yet. Terrain shapes everything: coverage runs along populated valleys and highways, is generally good at trekking hubs such as Namche Bazaar, and becomes intermittent at altitude and in side valleys, where lodges often rely on satellite links or local Wi-Fi instead.
Reputation & market position
Ncell is the main private challenger to state-owned Nepal Telecom and is generally regarded as the stronger network for mobile data in cities and tourist areas, while Nepal Telecom reaches further into remote rural districts. The brand is a household name in Nepal; its late-2023 change of ownership drew political scrutiny and a parliamentary inquiry, but day-to-day service for subscribers has continued unchanged.
Pros
- Strong 4G data performance in Kathmandu, Pokhara and tourist hubs
- Coverage at major trekking gateways, including the lower Everest region
- Simple prepaid packs popular with visitors
- No roaming charges with an AviaeSIM travel eSIM on the Ncell network
Cons
- Remote and high-altitude coverage trails state-owned Nepal Telecom in places
- Buying a local SIM or eSIM requires in-person passport registration
- No 5G yet — Nepal's networks top out at 4G LTE
Available plans
Countries covered
Get your Nepal eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the Ncell network
- 2Pay and receive your eSIM QR code by email
- 3Scan the QR code in your phone's settings to install it
- 4Turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you arrive
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy an Ncell eSIM online?
Ncell offers tourist eSIMs online through its own platform and converts existing numbers to eSIM via an online form that ends in KYC verification and a callback. For a plan you can install before you even leave home, AviaeSIM sells a prepaid eSIM on the Ncell network: pay by card, receive the QR code by email, and connect when you land in Kathmandu.
How do I get an Ncell eSIM QR code?
Ncell issues its QR code once your line is registered — at the counter or after the online KYC process. For AviaeSIM the QR code is in your confirmation email and account: open Settings → Mobile Data → Add eSIM, scan it, and turn on data roaming for the eSIM once you are in Nepal.
How much does an Ncell eSIM cost?
Converting an existing Ncell SIM to eSIM costs Rs. 100. Tourists buy a TouristPro pack instead: NPR 595 for 7 days, NPR 995 for 14 days or NPR 1,995 for 28 days, with the SIM or eSIM included. AviaeSIM's Ncell-network plans show the full price in USD at checkout, with nothing to pay on arrival.
Do I need a passport for an Ncell eSIM in Nepal?
Yes — Nepal registers every SIM, so a tourist line needs your original passport at the airport counter or an Ncell Centre, and an eSIM conversion needs a valid document. An AviaeSIM travel eSIM is registered to nothing but your email address, so there is no counter and no copy of your passport.
Does the Ncell eSIM work on the Everest Base Camp trek?
Ncell covers Kathmandu, Pokhara, the Terai cities and the main trekking gateways; higher on the Everest and Annapurna routes the signal is patchy and depends on the valley, and many trekkers rely on lodge Wi-Fi above the last towns. Any plan on the Ncell network, including AviaeSIM's, shares that coverage.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-07