Five ISPs with the lowest number of subscribers

The Internet connects us. It has been an integral part of our communication. It is not only a daily necessity but also an essential factor for development. The NTA (Nepal Telecommunication Authority)  record shows that more than half of the population of the country has access to the internet. As of July 2016, internet penetration has reached 52.03% as per the NTA MIS report. In the month of July 2015, the internet penetration stood at 43.67%.  Internet service providers have a significant contribution to this rise in internet penetration rate. The state-owned Nepal Telecom’s cheapest ADSL internet service is not reliable due to its poor quality and Ncell is focused only on the mobile internet so customers rely completely on internet service providers(ISPs) service. Altogether twenty-three ISPs are providing internet service in the country with a total of 159089 subscribers.

Despite 23 ISPs currently operating, there is fierce competition only among few of them. Many of them exist only for the sake of it. Some of them have subscribers below 100. Here we list such ISPs with the lowest number of subscribers.

Pokhara Internet Pvt. Ltd

It has been ten years since it has been providing services from Pokhara, Kaski. Despite having ten year’s of history its number of subscribers stands at just 15, as per the NTA MIS report. It provides optical fiber and wireless internet service. It has coverage throughout Pokhara, Lekhnath, Kusma, Walling, Bhorletar, Dulegauda, Galyang, Syangja, Bandipur, Bayarghari, Nayapool and Dumre.

Allied Net Link Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Marajgunj, Kathmandu

Established in the year 2008, it has just 62  subscribers. The total of 62 subscribers are wireless internet subscribers, MIS report states. It provides services like wireless internet, website development and leased line. According to its official website, it claims to have been providing services in most of the areas of Kathmandu and Sindhuli.

Nepal Net Sanchar, Biratnagar

Nepal Net Sanchar has a total of 75 subscribers. Of 75 internet subscribers, 60 are wireless internet subscribers and the remaining 15 are cable internet subscribers. It was founded in 2012.

Health Net Nepal, Jayabageswori, Kathmandu

The total number of customers of Health Net Nepal stands at 24 which are cable internet users. Health Net Nepal is somewhat different from other ISPs because it serves health community providing internet service. Being a subscriber of HealthNet Nepal, the organization can get access to health information resources of Nepal through their local Intranet.

Sustainable Network Pvt.Ltd. Pulchok, Lalitpur

It has 132 subscribers, of which 128 are wireless subscribers, two are cable and the rest two are optical fiber internet subscribers. Its network covers Patan to Budhanilkantha and up to Lele districts.

One of the reasons behind such lowest number of subscribers of above-mentioned ISPs is their fault to keep NTA updated with the data on subscribers.