---
title: "NTA's role and E.164 for Nepal"
subject: "Telecommunications"
chapter: 7
key: "semester_8/telecommunications:nta-role-e164"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/telecommunications/nta-role-e164
site: BCT Engineering
---

# NTA's role and E.164 for Nepal

Telecommunications · Chapter 7: Telecommunication Regulation

- Asked in: 2080 Baisakh, 3+3 marks; 2073 Shrawan, 4+4 marks (asked 2 times)
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/telecommunications/nta-role-e164
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/telecommunications/chapter-7

## Question

What role NTA plays in the development of telecommunication in Nepal? Describe E.164 for Nepal.

## Short answer

NTA licenses operators, allocates spectrum, regulates tariffs and interconnection, promotes competition, manages RTDF, QoS, numbering, type approval, and policy advice. E.164 international numbers have max 15 digits; Nepal's country code is 977, with NDC and subscriber number, e.g. +977 1 4XXXXXX or +977 98XXXXXXXX, dropping the trunk prefix 0.

## Answer

#### Role of NTA in development of telecom in Nepal

The **Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA)** is the telecom regulator established in 1998 under the **Telecommunications Act, 2053 (1997)**. Its main roles are:

1. **Licensing** basic, mobile, internet and other service providers, which opened the market to private operators.
2. **Spectrum allocation** and monitoring of radio frequencies.
3. **Tariff and interconnection regulation** for fair prices and fair access between operators.
4. **Promoting competition** and preventing monopoly.
5. **Rural access** through the **Rural Telecommunication Development Fund**.
6. **Quality of service** standards and **consumer protection**.
7. **Numbering plan** management.
8. **Type approval** of equipment and adoption of ITU standards; policy advice to the Government.

#### E.164 for Nepal

**ITU-T E.164** is the international public telecommunication numbering plan. An international number has at most **15 digits**:

```text
 +  977   1   4XXXXXX
 |   |    |      |
 |   CC  NDC    SN
 |   <-- max 15 digits -->
 international prefix (00)
```

- **CC (country code):** Nepal = **977** (zone 9: Asia).
- **NDC (national destination code):** area code or mobile prefix.
- **SN (subscriber number).**
- **NSN** = NDC + SN.

**Nepal's numbering (as per NTA numbering plan):**

| Item | Nepal |
|---|---|
| International prefix | 00 |
| Trunk (national) prefix | 0 |
| Country code | 977 |
| Fixed line example | Kathmandu 01-4XXXXXX (NDC 1 + 7 digits) |
| Other areas | Pokhara 061, Biratnagar 021, Chitwan 056 + 6 digits |
| Mobile | 10 digits: 984/985/986 (NT), 980/981/982 (Ncell), 961/988 (Smart) |
| Emergency short codes | 100 police, 101 fire, 102 ambulance |

**Dialling examples**

- Kathmandu number from Pokhara: 01-4XXXXXX.
- Same number from abroad: +977-1-4XXXXXX (the trunk prefix 0 is dropped).
- Mobile from abroad: +977-98XXXXXXXX.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. The E.164 country code of Nepal and its zone are:
   A. 977 in zone 9 (Asia)
   B. 91 in zone 9
   C. 977 in zone 3
   D. 880 in zone 8
   Answer: A. Nepal is +977, in world zone 9. (Key point: Nepal country code)

2. In E.164, the NSN is:
   A. CC + NDC
   B. NDC + SN
   C. international prefix + CC
   D. trunk prefix + CC
   Answer: B. NSN (national significant number) = national destination code + subscriber number. (Key point: NSN meaning)

3. Why is the 0 dropped in +977-1-4XXXXXX?
   A. Because 0 is a mobile prefix
   B. Because numbers must have 15 digits exactly
   C. Because the trunk prefix is used only for national calls
   D. Because Kathmandu has no area code
   Answer: C. The trunk prefix 0 is used only inside the country and is omitted in international format. (Key point: Trunk prefix in international format)

## Related in Telecommunications

- [Role of NTA in Nepal's telecom sector](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Arole-of-nta) — Telecommunications, chapter 7, asked 3×
- [NTA's role and ITU numbering plan](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Anta-role-itu-numbering) — Telecommunications, chapter 7
- [Purpose of ITU and NTA's regulatory role](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Aitu-purpose-nta-regulation) — Telecommunications, chapter 7, asked 2×
- [Telecommunication definition and Nepal's history since 1913](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Atelecom-nepal-history-1913) — Telecommunications, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Short note: Telecom development in Nepal since 1913](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Ashort-note-nepal-telecom-development) — Telecommunications, chapter 1
- [NTA, competition and consumer rights](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_8%2Ftelecommunications%3Anta-competition-consumer-rights) — Telecommunications, chapter 7

## Related in other subjects

- [Role of electrical energy in sustainable development](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Futilization_of_electrical_energy%3Aelectrical-energy-sustainable-development) — Utilization of Electrical Energy, chapter 1, asked 2×
- [Role of groundwater in irrigation development](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_5%2Fengineering_hydrology%3Agroundwater-irrigation-role) — Engineering Hydrology, chapter 1
- [Status of irrigation development in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Firrigation_and_drainage_engineering%3Airrigation-status-nepal) — Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, chapter 1, asked 4×
- [Historical development of roads in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Ahistorical-development-roads) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 1, asked 2×