Chaudhary Group, a Nepalese conglomerate which boasts over 100 companies under its umbrella and an investment outlay of over $1 billion, has announced the launch of a fibre internet service in Nepal.
The service was launched in Kathmandu, the capital and largest city of Nepal, with a population of around one million, under the name CG Net. It will compete with a number of other ISPs including Nepal Telecom, Worldink, Subisu and Vianet.
An infrastructure rollout is continuing in the area. According to web news service NepaliTelecom, the building of a Chaudhary Group data centre is also under way in the region.
To date CG Net has launched its fibre service in a number of areas in the Kathmandu Valley. including Jawalakhel, Jhamsikhel, Bhanimandal, and Ekantakuna. The plan is eventually to cover the entire Kathmandu Valley.
According to TeleGeography's CommsUpdate, this is a move that could disrupt the country’s ISP market as CG Net’s introductory subscription offer promotes peak download speeds of 120Mbps for a mere NPR999 a month ($8.49) with no installation charge.
There is a charge for a wireless router, though it declines in price depending on the subscription; for a 12 month or more subscription it’s free. There’s also a generous data allowance. IPTV, video OTT and other services are promised in the future.
Chaudhary Group also plans to offers mobile services in the country under the brand CG Telecom. However, according to NepaliTelecom, the company is apparently waiting for the award of a license and relevant spectrum.
