Kathmandu- Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel visited the Ncell office in Nakkhu on Sunday, where company officials briefed him on the damage and operational challenges the telecom operator has faced since the Gen Z protests earlier this year.
Ncell Chairperson Satish Lal Acharya and Chief Executive Officer Michael Foley received the minister and outlined the extent of losses incurred after the company’s central office at Lainchaur was vandalized, looted and set on fire during the protests on September 8 and 9. Since then, Ncell has been operating from its Nakkhu facility.
During the inspection, Minister Kharel welcomed Ncell’s upcoming service package aimed at Gen Z users. He said the company had also shared plans to expand telecom access at the Sagarmatha (Everest) Base Camp and other remote areas.
Acknowledging the heavy damage Ncell suffered, the minister stated that the government is prepared to provide whatever support is lawfully possible. He said some policy-level issues and disputes still remain, but expressed confidence that they can be resolved through legal procedures.
Ncell CEO Foley said Nepal’s telecom services still fall short of international standards and urged the government to facilitate improvements through supportive policy interventions. He emphasized that such steps are essential for upgrading telecom services nationwide.
