Internet penetration rate increases

24th-04-2012

KATHMANDU: The number of internet users surged to 4.44 million in mid-March up from 4.19 million reported in mid-February.

However, the internet penetration rate has gone up by less than one per cent to 16.67 per cent in mid-March from a month earlier’s 15.75 per cent, , according to Nepal Telecommunications Authority.

“Some 4.11 million people were connected to internet through GPRS, which is 3.87 million more than a month ago, and some 180,958 internet users were connected through CDMA in mid-March, which was 177,664 in mid-February,” the regulatory authority added.

Furthermore, some 81,661 internet subscribers used ADSL — in mid-March — up from 78,740 a month ago and some 17,036 used cable internet up from 17,108 in mid-February, the report added. “But the dial-up user base dropped to 18,794 from 19,520 in a month, it said, adding that some 32,279 internet users connected through other wireless or fibre optic technologies, compared to some 31,636 a month ago.

Similarly, the number of mobile customers has also increased to 14.22 million in mid-March from 13.85 million in mid-February. “Of the total, some 13.37 million are GSM users, up from 12.99 million a month earlier, and the rest used Nepal Telecom’s CDMA service called Sky Phone,” it revealed.

Ncell led with 7.46 million GSM subscribers, up from 7.18 million in mid-February followed by Nepal Telecom with 5.90 million, up from 5.82 million a month earlier.

Currently, Nepal Telecom — with multiple services including GSM mobile, CDMA mobile and fixed line — holds 47 per cent market share closely followed by Ncell with 46 per cent which has been providing GSM service only.

Similarly, the overall telephone penetration rate has touched 60.34 per cent, which was 58.66 per cent in mid-February. Himal.