Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has issued a firm directive to Nepal Telecom and the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) to immediately launch 5G services in the country, urging the agencies to act without further delay.

Speaking at a discussion held at the ministry today regarding the annual budget and programs of Nepal Telecom (NTC) and NTA for the fiscal year 2082/83, Minister Gurung stressed that while the expansion of 4G must continue robustly, preparations for the 5G network should now move into action.

“It has been a year since I gave the instruction to initiate 5G, yet there’s been no execution. That’s disappointing,” said Gurung, who also serves as the government spokesperson. “The 5G rollout must happen within this year without fail.”

He emphasized that merely having a theoretical presence in districts is insufficient for Nepal Telecom and insisted that the priority must be to deliver 4G access to households across the country. Gurung warned that any delays in improving internet and telephone services could undermine the government’s vision for digital governance and deprive citizens of essential services.

The Minister also called attention to poor connectivity along highways and urged both NTA and NTC to address those gaps urgently. “Wherever network access is critical, Nepal Telecom must be present,” he said, also linking improved connectivity to tourism promotion.

Highlighting Nepal Telecom’s weak promotional efforts, Gurung called on the company to raise awareness about its services, particularly in education and health sectors.

Communication Secretary Radhika Aryal echoed the urgency, stressing the need for more effective monitoring by the NTA and calling for programs that support innovative work by the country’s tech-savvy youth. “Such initiatives are not only timely but also a responsibility of the state,” she noted.

NTA Chairman Bhupendra Bhandari informed that the 5G deployment plan is in its final stage, with the tendering process set to begin soon. Similarly, NTC’s acting Managing Director Sabina Maskey (Pradhan) said 4G expansion is ongoing and the company is actively preparing for the 5G launch.

The discussion signals a push from the top levels of government to modernize Nepal’s telecom infrastructure swiftly and inclusively.