I’ll discuss the greatest internet service providers (ISPs) in Nepal in this article. But first, let me give you a good introduction.
The internet has become a necessary component of our daily lives. So much so that the United Nations has declared internet access to be a human right. Our reliance on the internet has transformed our lives into interconnected joy, from business needs to personal amusement to fundamental digital interaction; though I’m sure many don’t agree.
The total number of individuals linked to the internet will only increase as infrastructure, cost, and accessibility improvements.
Global internet users increased by 10% during the COVID-19 epidemic, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This is the most significant year-over-year gain in the last decade. As a result, 63 percent of the world’s 7.8 billion people are now online.
Price spikes in Nepal have hampered the growth of internet usage
Unfortunately, while internet usage has increased in Nepal over time, the cost of access remains a significant barrier. The government decided to add a 13 percent Telecommunications Service Charge (TSC) to the 13 percent VAT and 4 percent royalty fees in a country like ours where the GDP per capita is little over a thousand dollars.
As a result, a 2021 report from the A4AI (Alliance 4 Affordable Internet) places Nepal in the 37th position (among 72 low and middle-income countries); which is not that great. Then there’s the dilemma of selecting the correct ISP for you.
Recent Speed War
It all started when CG Net launched home internet plans with speeds of 120Mbps. Other ISPs were forced to respond by offering more competitive offers. Nepali ISPs now routinely offer bandwidth greater than 100Mbps, which was not the situation a year ago. Classic Tech has even introduced a 1 Gigabit per second internet service.
In this War, though, it’s disappointing to see ISPs overlooking other critical criteria such as speed consistency, service level, support, and customer pleasure. The majority of them aren’t even open about their FUP policy.
Disclaimer: The “ideal” internet service provider is MYTH!
But, before you go scratching your head, wondering which ISP in Nepal is the greatest, know this: there isn’t one. What I mean is that the question “which is the best ISP in Nepal?” does not have a single objectively correct answer. It all comes down to your geographic location. An ISP may provide exceptional service and have positive client references in one area but not in others.
So, before making your decision, ask your neighbors about their internet service (if possible). Now that we’ve cleared things up, let’s look at our list of Nepal’s best Internet Service Providers (ISPs).
One more thing (I know I’ve already dragged the intro), we’re listing internet plans from several ISPs for home/residential users; and all rates are exclusive of VAT. Furthermore, even though these ISPs’ internet plans are labeled as “unlimited,” they all have FUP restrictions. The FUP policy of each company, however, is unique.
Best Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Nepal:
1. Worldlink
According to the Nepal Telecommunication Authority’s (NTA) recent Management Information System (MIS) report, Worldlink has 542,758 total customers, accounting for 30.27 percent of the country’s total ISP subscribers. It is now Nepal’s largest ISP and third-largest telecoms company.
In 2020, it will celebrate 25 years of service. The journey began in 1995 with the launch of the e-mail service, and the company has come a long way since then.
In October 2019, Worldlink signed a $12 million contract with the CDC Group of the United Kingdom to expand the company’s facilities and operations in rural Nepal. Furthermore, Worldlink offers free Wi-Fi and “my Worldlink” Wi-Fi (unique to Worldlink customers) in over 10,000 sites across Nepal, thanks to a partnership with Facebook.
Moreover, the organization intends to extend the operation to 30,000 locations. It currently offers network coverage in 73 districts, including the most remote areas of Karnali.
The company will now offer four distinct speed plans: 150Mbps Photon Lite, 225Mbps Photon Lite, 300Mbps Photon Lite, and 600Mbps Photon. These packages also include a free NetTV standard connection, which requires you to stream online content or TV through a set-top box (STB).
Apart from that, the “myWorldlink” app may be used to track internet usage, report difficulties, and change Wi-Fi passwords, among other things.
Aside from that, each plan includes the following features:
- SafeNet: To monitor the usage and filter, block out any malicious contents on the web
- Time Back: Compensation against interrupted service due to internet outage or other reasons
- WiFi Mobility: As aforementioned, it is a partnership with Facebook Connectivity using its Express Wi-Fi platform to provide more than 10,000 hotspots across Nepal.
Worldlink Residential Broadband: Plans & Pricing
| Package Name | Max NetTV | Price | ||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | ||
| 150Mbps Photon Lite | 1 | Rs. 1,400 | Rs. 4,050 | Rs. 14,400 |
| 225Mbps Photon Lite | 2 | Rs. 1,500 | Rs. 4,350 | Rs. 16,800 |
| 300Mbps Photon Lite | 3 | Rs. 1,800 | Rs. 5,250 | Rs. 19,800 |
| 600Mbps Photon | 3 | N/A | Rs. 30,000 |
There are also additional charges for new customers, including:
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | |
| Drop Wire | Rs. 500 (Free for 600Mbps Photon Plan) | ||
| Dual-Band ONU Charges | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 2,000 | Free |
| Dual-Band ONU Deposit Charges | Rs. 500 | Free | |
| NetTV Activation | |||
| Primary STB | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 2,000 (Free for 600Mbps Photon Lite) | |
| Refundable Deposit | Rs. 500 | ||
| Secondary STB | Rs. 2,000 | ||
| Refundable Deposit | Rs. 500 |
You can even go with a Mesh Wi-Fi system that allows you to connect extra Beacon routers on top of the main router. For the Photon Lite and Photo plans, Worldlink delivers Nokia Beacon 1.1 and Beacon 3.0 routers, respectively. The rental fees and deposits for each beacon router are listed below.
| Plans | Mesh Wii-Fi Count | Rental Charge | Deposit | Smart Installation |
| Photon Lite | 1st Beacon 1.1 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 3,000 |
| 2nd Beacon 1.1 | Rs. 5,000 | |||
| Photon | 1st Beacon 3.0 | Rs. 8,000 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 3,000 |
| 2nd Beacon 3.0 | ||||
| 3rd Beacon 3.0 | ||||
| 4th Beacon 3.0 |
2. Subisu
When it comes to digital TV and internet services in Nepal, Subisu is another familiar name. Subisu is Nepal’s only ISO 9001:2015 and 27001:2013 certified cable operator, having been founded in 2001. That should be enough to speak for itself and indicate its popularity.
A year ago, however, this was not the case. Since then, the company has grown to become Nepal’s second-largest ISP. Subisu has 208,817 fiber internet subscribers, putting it in second place among Nepal’s top ISPs after Worldlink.
You can opt for fiber internet with or without Clear TV here. Yet, the bandwidth on the internet subscription without TV is less than that with TV.
Subisu Technology and types of internet connections
Subisu provides two types of technology: fiber and wireless internet. Fiber-based internet is achieved using fiber-optic connections, whereas wireless broadband is achieved using radio frequencies (without cable).
Fiber-optic is the better option in most cases, such as connection quality, security, and total cost.
Wireless internet, on the other hand, can be a viable alternative for individuals who want quick setup and access to hotspots, but at the expense of signal strength and network security.
However, if you wish to subscribe to Subisu’s wireless internet service, you should be aware that it is only available outside of the Kathmandu valley. Similarly, Clear TV installation is not possible with wireless internet.
Subisu FTTH Home Internet: Plans & Pricing
| Package Name | Max Clear TV | Price | |||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | ||
| 30Mbps | – | Rs. 1,195 | Rs. 3,407 | Rs. 6,451 | N/A |
| 31Mbps | 1 | Rs. 1,550 | Rs. 4,400 | Rs. 7,500 | |
| 50Mbps | – | Rs. 1,460 | Rs. 4,200 | Rs. 7,255 | Rs. 11,947 |
| 55Mbps | 2 | Rs. 1,858 | Rs. 5,350 | Rs. 9,200 | Rs. 14,942 |
| 70Mbps | – | Rs. 1,637 | Rs. 4,500 | Rs. 7,790 | Rs. 13,800 |
| 80Mbps | 3 | Rs. 2,124 | Rs. 6,350 | Rs. 11,000 | Rs. 21,500 |
| 150 Mbps | 4 | N/A | Rs. 13,540 | Rs. 26,549 |
Now let’s look at the total charge for first-time installation:
| Package Name | Single Band Router | Dual Band Router | ||||||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | |
| 30Mbps | Rs. 4,292 | Rs. 6,062 | Rs. 8,663 | N/A | Rs. 4,735 | Rs. 6,504 | Rs. 9,106 | N/A |
| 31Mbps | Rs. 7,744 | Rs. 9,710 | Rs. 11,924 | Rs. 8,187 | Rs. 10,152 | Rs. 12,367 | ||
| 50Mbps | Rs. 4,557 | Rs. 6,855 | Rs. 9,467 | Rs. 13,717 | Rs. 5,000 | Rs. 7,297 | Rs. 9,910 | Rs. 14,159 |
| 55Mbps | Rs. 8,052 | Rs. 10,660 | Rs. 13,624 | Rs. 18.482 | Rs. 8,495 | Rs. 11,102 | Rs. 14,067 | Rs. 18,924 |
| 70Mbps | Rs. 4,734 | Rs. 7,155 | Rs. 10,002 | Rs. 15,570 | Rs. 5,177 | Rs. 7,597 | Rs. 10,445 | Rs. 16,012 |
| 80Mbps | Rs. 8,318 | Rs. 11,660 | Rs. 15,424 | Rs. 25,040 | Rs. 8,761 | Rs. 12,102 | Rs. 15,867 | Rs. 25,482 |
| 150Mbps | N/A | Rs. 17,079 | Rs. 28,318 |
3. Classic Tech
Classic Tech was ranked fourth on our list of the best internet service providers (ISP) in Nepal when we last updated it. It has since surpassed Vianet to claim third place in terms of user volume.
Classic Tech, on the other hand, arrived late to the race, but with a bang. With a potential bandwidth of up to 1Gbps, it unveiled Tachyon plans to compete with Worldlink Photon plans.
Under the Platinum Tachyon plans, the corporation even delivers Huawei Wi-Fi 6 router in partnership with Huawei.
Classic Tech Home: Plans & Pricing
| Package Name | TV | Price | ||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | ||
| Bronze Tachyon (150Mbps) | 1 | Rs. 1,500 | Rs. 4,350 | Rs. 14,388 |
| Silver Tachyon (225Mbps) | 2 | Rs. 1,800 | Rs. 5,250 | Rs. 16,788 |
| Gold Tachyon (325Mbps) | 2 | Rs. 2,400 | Rs. 7,050 | Rs. 19,788 |
| Diamond Tachyon (625Mbps) | 3 | N/A | Rs. 29,888 | |
| Platinum Tachyon (1000Mbps) | 3 | N/A | Rs, 47,988 |
Provided below are the one-time charges for first-time users:
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | |
| FTTH Cable | Rs. 500 (Free on Bronze & Platinum) | ||
| Dual Band 5G ONU | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 2,000 | FREE |
| Dual Band 5G ONU Deposit | Rs. 500 | ||
| STB Activation (Primary) | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 2,000 (Free on Bronze & Platinum) |
| STB Deposit | Rs. 500 | ||
| STB Activation (Secondary) | Rs. 2,000 | ||
| STB Deposit | Rs. 500 |
The Mesh Wi-Fi system is also supported by the new Tachyon packages. The charge for each additional Mesh router in each bundle is listed below.
| Rental Charge | Security | Smart Installation | |
| Bronze / Silver / Gold | |||
| Mesh 1.0 (up to 2) | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 3,000 |
| Diamond / Platinum | |||
| Mesh 2.0 (up to 4) | Rs. 8,000 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 3,000 |
Read detailed info regarding ClassicTech plans and packages
4. Vianet
Vianet is now the fourth-largest Internet service provider in Nepal. In terms of subscribers, both Subisu and Classic Tech have outperformed the company in terms of subscribers. Its FTTH service has a strong presence, particularly in the Kathmandu valley, with a large number of satisfied home and business users.
As a result, various polls on the internet have declared Vianet to be one of Nepal’s top internet service providers. However, the company has not been able to expand as quickly as the competition in other parts of the country.
Despite being one of Nepal’s largest ISPs, Vianet has been unable to expand its operations in various areas. The company presently operates in 22 districts, with Darchula, Khalanga, being the most remote.
Anyway, Vianet now provides its own ViaTV & VoD (Video on Demand) services.
Vianet Ultra-Fi: Plans & Pricing
| Package Name | Max ViaTV | Price | ||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | ||
| Ultra-Fi 125Mbps TV+ | 1 | Rs. 1,400 | Rs. 4,050 | Rs. 13,200 |
| Ultra-Fi 175Mbps TV+ | 2 | Rs. 1,550 | Rs. 4,500 | Rs. 15,000 |
| Ultra-Fi 250Mbps TV+ | 3 | Rs. 1,900 | Rs 5,550 | Rs. 18,000 |
There are also other additional charges for new customers which include:
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | |
| Installation Charge | Rs. 500 | Free | |
| Dual Band Router Installation | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 1,000 |
| Fiber Wi-Fi Device Deposit | Rs. 500 | ||
| ViaTV STB Activation | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 2,500 | Free |
| STB Deposit | Rs. 500 | ||
| ViaTV STB Activation (Secondary) | Rs. 2,000 | ||
| STB Deposit (Secondary) | Rs. 500 |
5. Nepal Telecom FTTH
Then there’s Nepal Telecom’s own FTTH internet service. Despite the fact that many people criticize its extremely slow ADSL-based internet services, it has received a lot of positive feedback.
Despite being the country’s largest broadband operator, Nepal Telecom only has 145,655 subscribers to its Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) internet plan, despite 60,000 new connections in the first ten months of the lockout.
NT FTTH is now available in 33 districts, with speeds ranging from 25Mbps to 80Mbps and a variety of plans and bundles to choose from. These internet plans include NTTV (restricted to Kathmandu and Banepa) and telephone service to entice more consumers.
Despite looking like a viable alternative, its registration process is tediously old-school which is as follows:
- Download the FTTH registration form, fill it up, and then submit it to the nearest Nepal Telecom (NT) service counter.
- Then, NT will carry out the site survey & estimation for possible plans regarding installation.
- Once everything checks out, NT will carry out the process and then provide a username & password for login.
Yeah, it’s not really enticing to the younger generation of potential clients. As a result, it is unlikely to be considered one of Nepal’s best internet service providers. It also has a very restrictive FUP policy that may not be suited for many users.
NTC FTTH FUP Limits:
| FTTH Package | Daily Volume | Speed after FUP Volume |
| 25Mbps | 30GB | 5Mbps |
| 40Mbps | 40GB | |
| 80Mbps | 60GB |
As a result, Nepal Telecom’s FTTH is only ideal for people who use the internet only when absolutely necessary; those who do not require a lot of bandwidth.
Nepal Telecom FTTH Individual (Internet + TV + telephone): Plan and Pricing
| Package Name | Price | ||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | |
| 25Mbps | Rs. 1,400 | Rs. 4,100 | Rs. 14,025 |
| 40Mbps | Rs. 1,850 | Rs. 5,500 | Rs. 18,025 |
| 80Mbps | Rs. 2,450 | Rs. 7,200 | Rs. 23,525 |
Nepal Telecom FTTH Individual (No TV): Plan and Pricing
| Package Name | Price | ||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 12 Months | |
| 25Mbps | Rs. 1,000 | Rs. 2,850 | Rs. 10,500 |
| 40Mbps | Rs. 1,500 | Rs. 4,200 | Rs. 15,300 |
| 80Mbps | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 5,500 | Rs. 20,500 |
Now, let’s look at the additional tariffs of Nepal Telecom on the first-time installation:
| One Time Charge | 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months |
| Drop Wire | Rs. 10 per meter (free for up to 100m) | ||
| Installation Charge | |||
| No Telephone | Rs. 500 | ||
| 1 Telephone | Rs. 1,165 | ||
| 2 Telephone | Rs. 1,830 | ||
| CPE Router | Rs. 2,825 | Free | |
| NTTV Set Top Box | Rs. 3,800 | Free | |
| Secondary NTTV | Rs. 508.5 | Rs. 1448.66 | Rs. 4881.60 |
6. DishHome Fibernet
DishHome, like CG Net, is a newcomer to Nepal’s ISP business. Last year, the company started its Fibernet programs in Kathmandu, and it is currently expanding. DishHome Fibernet takes advantage of DishHome’s existing distribution network.
DishHome Fibernet, unlike any other ISP on this list of Nepal’s best internet service providers, allows consumers to choose between IPTV and DTH TV. The latter makes use of satellite signals, which saves you bandwidth.
DishHome Fibernet: Plan and Pricing
| Package Name | Max DTH TVs | Price | |||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | ||
| 10Mbps (Single Band) | 1 | Rs. 531 | Rs. 1,549 | Rs. 3,009 | Rs. 5,841 |
| 15Mbps (Single Band | 1 | Rs. 600 | Rs. 1,750 | Rs. 3,400 | Rs. 6,600 |
| 25Mbps (Single Band | 1 | Rs. 900 | Rs. 2,640 | Rs. 5,160 | Rs. 10,000 |
| 40Mbps (Single Band | 1 | Rs. 1,030 | Rs. 3,030 | Rs. 5,880 | Rs. 11,499 |
| 60Mbps (Dual Band) | 1 | Rs. 1,200 | Rs. 3,525 | Rs. 6,900 | Rs. 13,499 |
| 80Mbps (Dual Band) | 1 | Rs. 1,370 | Rs. 4,020 | Rs. 7,860 | Rs. 15,499 |
| 100Mbps (Dual Band) | 1 | Rs. 1,530 | Rs. 4,530 | Rs. 8,880 | Rs. 17,499 |
| 100Mbps FUP (Dual Band) | 0 | N/A | Rs. 10,788 |
Here are the additional charges for new users:
| Package Name | DTH Installation | Fiber Net Installations | ||||||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | |
| 10Mbps (Single Band) | Rs. 3,539 | Rs. 2,212 | ||||||
| 15Mbps (Single Band | Rs. 3,539 | Rs. 2,212 | ||||||
| Single Band: 25 / 40Mbps | Rs. 2,400 | Rs. 2,100 | Rs. 1,800 | Rs. 1,500 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 1,500 | Rs. 1,000 | Free |
| Dual-Band: 60 / 80 / 100Mbps | Rs. 2,400 | Rs. 2,100 | Rs. 1,800 | Rs. 1,500 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 1,500 | Rs. 1,000 | Free |
| 100Mbps FUP (Dual Band) | N/A | N/A | Rs. 1,000 |
7. CG Net
As we all know, Nepal’s ISP market has been stagnating for several years. That’s why CG Net’s 120Mbps residential plans seemed like a breath of fresh air when they debuted. Other ISPs were barely providing bandwidth above 80Mbps at the time.
As a result, CG Communications can be blamed for the recent Nepali ISP bandwidth conflict. However, being a newcomer to the industry, it has had difficulty expanding its coverage and providing excellent customer service. CG Net also does not yet have an IPTV service. The firm, on the other hand, is developing its own OTT and IPTV platform, which will be powered by Airtel IQ Video.
CG Net: Plans & Pricing
| Package Name | Price | |||
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | |
| 50Mbps | Rs. 649 | Rs. 1,947 | Rs. 3,894 | Rs. 7,788 |
| 120Mbps | Rs. 999 | Rs. 2,997 | Rs. 5,994 | Rs. 11,988 |
The additional charges levied on first-time installations are as follows:
| 1 Month | 3 Months | 6 Months | 12 Months | |
| Installation | Free | |||
| Drop Wire Charge | Free | |||
| Single Band Router | Rs. 2500 | Rs. 2,000 | Rs. 1,500 | Free |
| Dual Band Router (Optional) | Rs. 3,500 | Rs. 3,000 | Rs. 2,500 | Rs. 2,000 (Free for 120Mbps plan) |
| Refundable Deposit | Rs. 500 |
Read: CG Package review
Best Internet Service Providers (ISP) in Nepal 2021 (Summary)
As mentioned earlier, there’s no one right answer when it comes to answering the question “which is the best ISP in Nepal?” Thus this listing is completely based on each company’s subscribers volume instead.
| S. No. | Best internet service providers in Nepal |
| 1 | Worldlink |
| 2 | Subisu |
| 3 | Classic Tech |
| 4 | Vianet |
| 5 | Nepal Telecom FTTH |
| 6 | DishHome Fibernet |
| 7 | CG Net |
Final words
Thus, this is the list of the best internet service (ISP) in Nepal to date. To summarize once again, there is not a single option that states that this is the best one, but the location is one of the major factors for the performance as well. But obviously, ISPs like Worldlink & Vianet offer a wider range of services with their internet subscription.
And that may be of great significance to userbase like families & such. Therefore, it is necessary to determine your usage volume and conduct proper research about the particular ISP’s reputation in your community before going for it.
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