Aug 04, Kathmandu - Nepal's telecom giant Ncell has long been entangled in various controversies. Most recently, the arrest of former Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) Chairman Bhupendra Bhandari has brought the company back into the limelight amid ongoing legal and regulatory disputes.

Despite these series of conflicts, Ncell has maintained its stance as a formidable competitor in Nepal's telecom sector. Data indicates that the company continues to expand its service offerings and market reach. According to the latest figures from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) up to Ashadha, Ncell and Nepal Telecom (NTC) remain close rivals in the industry.

By the end of Ashadha, Nepal Telecom's voice service users via SIM cards numbered approximately 15.77 million, while Ncell's voice service users reached around 14.18 million. Additionally, over 31.3 million individuals and organizations subscribe to internet services, with mobile broadband subscriptions constituting about 27.73 million. Of these, Ncell accounts for approximately 44.76%, while Nepal Telecom holds about 55.24%.

The expansion of mobile voice and broadband internet services in Nepal reflects a healthy competition between Ncell and Nepal Telecom, contributing significantly to the growth of the country's ICT sector.

Leadership and Investment Under Satish Lal Acharya

Since its inception, Ncell has undergone multiple changes in its management and ownership. Most notably, Satish Lal Acharya recently acquired 80% of Ncell's shares through Malaysian firm Axiata, with the entire stake being foreign investment. However, the Supreme Court has ordered that the transaction must be approved by the NTA, a matter still pending resolution.

Despite nearly two years passing since Acharya's stake acquisition, Ncell has shown no signs of decline. On the contrary, under his leadership, the company has invested heavily in data centers and cloud services. Ncell asserts that expanding data and internet services promotes sustainable business growth and keeps more revenue within Nepal through cloud technology.

Since Acharya took the helm, Ncell has expanded its network significantly—adding 250 new towers in 2025 alone—and continues to broaden its coverage. Currently, the company claims to serve approximately 95% of the Nepalese population with 4G services.

Legal and Regulatory Challenges

Ncell's capital gains tax issue remains a contentious matter. Authorities' delayed action allowed key stakeholder Teletalk Soner (now Teliya Company) to exit Ncell without fulfilling tax obligations, according to insiders close to Acharya. The transfer of ownership in 2016, which involved the sale of Axiata's stake and the subsequent sale of Teliya's shares, raised questions over tax liabilities owed to the government.

The recent detention of former NTA Chairman Bhandari has reopened these old disputes, bringing past controversies back into public discussion. The Council of Ministers' decision on February 20, 2024, to reject the share purchase agreement between Axiata and Spectra Light UK further complicates the legal landscape.

Acharya and his supporters argue that political bias and misinterpretation by regulators influenced the decision, asserting that Acharya's entry into Ncell was based on legitimate, professional business considerations. The Supreme Court has ordered the government to implement the law accordingly.

A Business Leader with Regional Experience

Acharya is a successful businessman with operations across Singapore and other countries. His investments extend to telecommunications ventures in Cambodia, and he shares his experience in the industry through his family, including his wife, Bhawana Singh Shrestha. His extensive knowledge of technology and telecom business positions him as a key figure capable of elevating Nepal’s telecom industry to new heights.