---
title: "Short note: Telecom development in Nepal since 1913"
subject: "Telecommunications"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_8/telecommunications:short-note-nepal-telecom-development"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/telecommunications/short-note-nepal-telecom-development
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Short note: Telecom development in Nepal since 1913

Telecommunications · Chapter 1: Telecommunication Networks

- Asked in: 2075 Chaitra, 4 marks
- Video: [Development of telecommunications in Nepal ! Nepal frist rank in technology growth speed ! Nepal](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgWgHWkvVok) — kamal hai yaar
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/telecommunications/short-note-nepal-telecom-development
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/telecommunications/chapter-1

## Question

Write a short note on development of telecommunication sector in Nepal starting from 1913 A.D.

## Short answer

Nepal telecom began with a 1913 line in Kathmandu, manual exchange in 1935, automatic exchange in 1962, NTC in 1975 and Sanga earth station in 1982. The 1997 Telecommunication Act created NTA, opened private operation; GSM began 1999, Nepal Telecom formed 2004, private GSM 2005, 3G 2007, 4G 2017, with fibre and FTTH expanding.

## Answer

Telecommunication in Nepal began in **1913 AD**, when the first telephone line was set up in Kathmandu for the Rana administration. A **manual exchange** of about 100 lines followed in **1935**. In the 1950s HF radio links joined district headquarters and other countries, and the telephone service was opened to the public.

The first **automatic exchange** (about 1,000 lines) came to Kathmandu in **1962**, followed by telex and trunk links. **Nepal Telecommunications Corporation (NTC)** was established in **1975** and built the **Sanga satellite earth station (1982)**, a microwave backbone and digital exchanges in the 1980s–90s.

The **Telecommunication Act 2053 (1997)** created the **Nepal Telecommunications Authority (1998)** as regulator and opened the sector to private operators. NTC launched **GSM mobile (1999)** and became **Nepal Doorsanchar Company Ltd (Nepal Telecom) in 2004**; private GSM (Mero Mobile, now Ncell) started in **2005**, with UTL and ISPs adding competition.

**3G** arrived in **2007**, followed by **4G LTE (2017)**; a national optical fibre backbone and FTTH have spread broadband, and mobile phones now reach most of the population.

## Check yourself

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

1. When and for whom was the first telephone line set up in Kathmandu?
   A. 1935, for the public
   B. 1913, for the Rana administration
   C. 1962, for Nepal Telecommunications Corporation
   D. 1975, for private operators
   Answer: B. Telecommunication began in 1913 AD with a telephone line for the Rana administration; the manual exchange followed in 1935. (Key point: Start of telecom in Nepal)

2. Which sequence of exchanges in Kathmandu is correct?
   A. Automatic (1935) then manual (1962)
   B. Manual (about 100 lines, 1935) then automatic (about 1,000 lines, 1962)
   C. Digital (1935) then manual (1962)
   D. Manual (1962) then automatic (1975)
   Answer: B. A manual exchange of about 100 lines came in 1935, and the first automatic exchange of about 1,000 lines in 1962. (Key point: Exchange technology progression)

3. What did the Telecommunication Act 2053 (1997) achieve?
   A. It created the Nepal Telecommunications Authority as regulator and opened the sector to private operators
   B. It established NTC as a monopoly
   C. It launched 4G LTE
   D. It built the Sanga earth station
   Answer: A. The Act created the NTA (1998) as regulator and allowed private operators, leading to Ncell (2005) and others. (Key point: Liberalisation)

## Related in Telecommunications

- [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×
- [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×

## Related in other subjects

- [Case study: Nepal Electricity Authority / Telecom](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Forganization_and_management%3Acase-study-nea-nt) — Organization and Management, chapter 9
- [Energy sector and poverty in Nepal](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aenergy-development-poverty-nepal) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 2