Minister Kharel Visits Ncell Data Centre, Pledges Government Support

On Monday, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagdish Kharel visited Ncell's Integrated Data Centre (IDC) in Nakkhu, Lalitpur. He assured the telecom company of government support after it suffered losses during the recent Gen Z protests.

Ncell Chairman Satish Lal Acharya and CEO Michael Foley updated the minister about the company’s services, its contribution to the economy, and the damage caused by the protests. The protests resulted in losses of around Rs 650 million and damage to facilities, including the Ncell ICON building, according to a press release.

Minister Kharel appreciated Ncell’s role in Nepal’s telecom sector and economy. He promised government support to encourage investment and improve services, especially in rural areas and the Everest region.
“I am saddened by Ncell’s loss of about Rs 650 million due to the Gen Z protests. The government is committed to creating a good environment for investment in Nepal, especially for foreign investors. We will support Ncell,” he said.

He also welcomed Ncell’s plan to launch a “Gen Z Pack” for students and a scholarship program. CEO Foley said Ncell will offer scholarships to 100 SEE students every year with a fund of Rs 10 million. He added that the Gen Z Pack will help meet students’ communication needs and reaffirmed Ncell’s support for the Digital Nepal vision.

Ncell highlighted its 20 years of work in Nepal’s ICT sector, including paying nearly Rs 360 billion in taxes and fees, supporting around 100,000 jobs, and investing over Rs 2 billion in social projects through its CSR initiatives and the Ncell Foundation.