In the last 10 months, the number of users of 2G Internet services has more than doubled. According to Nepal Telecommunication Authority, more than 32 lakh 65 thousand people used this service in January, while 14 lakh 71 thousand people used 2Ji last month. Although the Internet service technology in Nepal is being converted to 4G and fiber (FTTH), the number of 2G users is surprisingly increasing, according to the authority's data.

According to the authority's MIS report, the number of 2G users under broadband technology in March was 32 lakh 65 thousand 401. This means that 11.20 percent of internet users still use 2G. At present, the number of people using broadband technology in Nepal is more than the population of the country, 427 million 64 thousand 169 and the Internet penetration is 146.63 percent. Out of this, 25.1 million 97 thousand (86.40 percent) use 4G services.

While the number of 2G and 4G users is on the rise, the number of 3G users has been stable in recent months. Since October, the number of 3G users in Nepal has been around 9.1 million. According to the authority's data, there were about 7.2 million 3G users last May, but in October, the number decreased to 420,000. Since then, the number of 3G users has not increased significantly.

The number of users of 4G service, which occupies a major part in Nepal's mobile internet sector, has reached 25.1 million 97 thousand in January, compared to 2.9 million 82 thousand in May last year. This means that more than 32 lakh 15 thousand users of 4G have been added in 10 months.

While more than 60 percent of the total users have joined 5G in neighboring countries including India, the attraction of 2G continues in Nepal. Although the number of users of 2020 in India is 25 to 30 million, this number has been stable for two to three years. In Nepal, there is an increase in the use of two-wheelers. Nepal Telecom, which has been given the responsibility of testing for 5G, has not been able to achieve any progress in this. According to

experts, users are moving directly from 2G to 4G. Some people are of the opinion that since the 3G phase has reached the phase of retirement, the rationale for service providers to invest in it is diminishing. 2G is cheap and widely available and is the main Internet medium in rural areas where 4G does not reach.

Mobile internet service providers around the world are moving away from 3G networks and expanding 4G and 5G services. In Nepal, the government-owned Nepal Telecom has announced the closure of the 2G service operating in the 1800 MHz band. The company has informed that it plans to close the 2G service within this financial year.

Last month, at the 21st anniversary event of Telecom, the managing director of the company, Sangeeta Pahari, said about the closure of the Twoji service. Telecom is going to replace the 2G service by giving priority to the expansion of 4G with the aim of technology transformation and providing quality service. So far, Nepal Telecom's 4G service has reached 744 municipalities in 77 districts of the country, said Managing Director Pahadi.