Smart Cell, officially known as Smart Telecom Private Limited (STPL), is a private mobile network service provider in Nepal. The company was established on July 1, 2008, and has its headquarters in Lalitpur, Bagmati Province. Smart Cell has been extending its network with the aim of covering the entire nation. It provides mobile telephony, GSM, GPRS, and 4G LTE services. Over the years, Smart Cell has become the third-largest telecom firm in Nepal, with approximately 2.2 million GSM customers as of 2021. Despite its growth, the company has faced financial controversies, including outstanding dues to the government for frequency fees, license renewal fees, and other liabilities. In 2021, Ocean Cable and Communication (OCC Corporation), a Japanese firm, agreed to acquire Smart Cell for Rs 12 billion, contingent upon Smart Cell clearing its debts and controversies. In April 2023 it was reported that the Nepal Telecommunication Authority had taken control of Smart.
4G Network
Smart Cell launched its 4G services in Nepal on October 28, 2017, initially in Kathmandu and Pokhara. This made Smart Cell the third telecom company in Nepal to offer 4G services, following Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell. The company operates its 4G network in the 1800 MHz band, utilising a bandwidth of 10 MHz. This strategic choice was aimed at providing faster 4G services compared to its competitors. Despite initial plans to expand the 4G network to other cities across Nepal, Smart Cell's 4G services were reported to have been shut down following the NTA's actions.
4G Frequency Bands
| Network Frequency Band | Max. Channel Bandwidth | Status | Known EARFCNs |
|---|---|---|---|
|
10
|
Active
|
1743
|
4G Network Events
| Date | Event | Subtype |
|---|---|---|
|
|
Launch of 4G Network
|
Launch
|