5G stands for fifth-generation wireless technology, which is the latest iteration of mobile internet connectivity. It is designed to be faster, more reliable, and have lower latency than previous generations of wireless technology, such as 4G and 3G.


Nepal Telecom has been delaying the rollout of 5G technology despite planning it for years. The latest information suggests that the launch could be soon, but there is no definite date. The state-owned company has previously made promises about the launch, but they have always been postponed. Nepal Telecom has conducted 5G trials internally, but there is no information about when the trials will be available to the public. The company plans to conduct trials in one location in each of the seven provinces, and after the piloting, it will issue a global tender to buy equipment for 5G. However, the launch has been delayed due to various reasons such as changes in government, Covid lockdowns, and internal politics. The private telecom sector has also expressed interest in conducting 5G trials, but there is still no working procedure to involve them in the project.

 

Ntc's trial of 5G will be offered for free to all participants during the trial period. According to the company's representative, Mr. Adhikari, the trial is merely an experiment for the new network. Anyone with a compatible device can access the network at no charge, providing both users and service providers with an opportunity to explore the latest mobile network. Additionally, the trial will serve as a foundation for expanding the network throughout Nepal. After starting in Kathmandu and select cities, Ntc is preparing to launch the 5G network trial in selected locations across all seven provinces.

 

Over a year ago, Ntc received approval and spectrum from Nta, allowing the government-backed telecommunications company to accelerate its efforts to introduce the fifth-generation cellular communication standard. Ntc will be the first operator in Nepal to launch this groundbreaking technology.

 

The company has not offered any estimate on when it will allow the public to access its high-octane 5G network but it should take a while. The delay is caused by the reality that there are extremely few 5G devices in Nepal. Once the number of compatible handsets grows, the company should roll it out for free for its customers.

 

The main advantages of 5G include:

 

Faster download and upload speeds: With 5G, users can expect download speeds of up to 20 gigabits per second, which is significantly faster than what is currently possible with 4G.

 

Reduced latency: 5G networks have much lower latency than 4G networks, meaning there is less delay in data transfer. This is particularly important for applications that require real-time responsiveness, such as remote surgery or autonomous vehicles.

 

Increased connectivity: 5G can support a much larger number of connected devices per unit area than 4G, which is important for the growing number of internet of things (IoT) devices in use.

5G has several features that make it stand out from previous generations of wireless technology. 

 

Here are some of the key features of 5G:


Higher data rates: 5G is designed to support faster data rates, with peak speeds of up to 20 Gbps. This is significantly faster than 4G, which has peak speeds of around 1 Gbps.

 

Lower latency: 5G networks have lower latency than previous generations of wireless technology, meaning there is less delay in data transfer. This is important for applications that require real-time responsiveness, such as remote surgery or autonomous vehicles.

 

Increased capacity: 5G is designed to support a much larger number of devices per unit area than previous generations of wireless technology. This is important for the growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices in use.

 

Improved network reliability: 5G networks are designed to be more reliable than previous generations of wireless technology. This is achieved through technologies like network slicing, which allows the network to be divided into virtual segments that can be optimized for different use cases.

Better energy efficiency: 5G is designed to be more energy-efficient than previous generations of wireless technology. This is achieved through technologies like device-to-device communication, which can reduce the need for data to be transmitted through the network.

 

Improved security: 5G networks are designed to be more secure than previous generations of wireless technology. This is achieved through technologies like enhanced encryption, which can protect data as it is transmitted over the network.

 

So, 5G is expected to provide faster and more reliable connectivity for a wide range of applications, from streaming video to industrial automation and beyond.