Enhanced system to support HD voice services for up to 5 million users
KATHMANDU, JANUARY 1
Minister for Communication and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel on Sunday inaugurated Ncell's VoLTE Capacity Enhancement Project at the company's data centre in Pokhara, marking a significant upgrade in Nepal's telecommunications infrastructure.
The project was officially launched with the activation of an expanded IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) equipped with high-end servers, enabling improved Voice over Long Term Evolution (VoLTE) and Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) services.
With the upgrade, Ncell said it can now provide VoLTE services to up to 5 million active customers from the Pokhara facility, which currently operates as a disaster recovery data centre.
VoLTE allows users to access high-definition voice calls with faster connectivity over 4G networks, while VoWiFi enables calls and SMS using Wi-Fi networks, particularly in areas with weak mobile signals such as basements, high-rise buildings and remote locations.
During the visit, Minister Kharel said infrastructure such as Ncell's data centre was vital to the government's Digital Nepal vision. "Facilities like this are among the key pillars supporting Nepal's digitalisation drive," he said, appreciating the centre's management and operational standards.
Ncell's Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Dilliram Shrestha said the data centre, operational since 2012, has played a critical role in Nepal's ICT sector. He added that the expanded VoLTE capacity would allow the company to extend modern voice services to a larger customer base.
Ncell officials also briefed the minister on the centre's technological capabilities and its role in ensuring service continuity during emergencies.
