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
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
How can I buy an Ncell eSIM online?
Fully online purchase of an Ncell eSIM is not generally available to visitors: Nepali regulations require SIM registration, so Ncell issues eSIMs at its service centres with your passport and a photo. If you want data on the Ncell network without the paperwork, an AviaeSIM prepaid travel eSIM is sold entirely online and installs by QR code before you land.
Does Ncell support eSIM?
Yes. Ncell offers eSIM for compatible phones; you can get one, or convert an existing SIM, at an Ncell Centre, and foreigners must register with a passport. Alternatively, AviaeSIM's Nepal travel eSIMs use the same Ncell network but skip the visit entirely: buy online, scan a QR code, and your data plan activates when you arrive in Nepal.
How much does an Ncell eSIM cost?
Ncell prices its SIMs and prepaid packs by data volume and validity, and tariffs change, so check current rates at an Ncell Centre or on its official channels. AviaeSIM's prepaid plans on the Ncell network show the full price upfront at checkout — you pay once before travel, with no roaming charges or surprise top-up fees afterwards.
Does Ncell work on the Everest Base Camp trek?
Partly. Ncell famously installed a 3G site near Everest Base Camp back in 2010, and signal is decent at hubs like Lukla and Namche Bazaar. Higher up, coverage grows patchy and depends on weather and terrain, so treat mobile data as a bonus above the villages: download offline maps and keep lodge Wi-Fi, usually paid, as a backup.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-07