Ncell celebrates its 19th anniversary with the launch of Ncell Foundation

KATHMANDU: Ncell, Nepal’s first private-sector GSM mobile service provider on Tuesday celebrated nearly two decades of serving Nepal and its people with an important announcement—the launch of Ncell Foundation to govern and drive all of Ncell’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

“Over the past 19 years, Ncell has contributed over Rs 2 billion (USD 15 million) on CSR activities in various area—health, education, environment and more, impacting over 13 million lives both directly and indirectly. We now believe it is important to bring all of our good work under one umbrella, one purpose, and that is the Ncell Foundation,” said Jabbor Kayumov, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Ncell, during a special event organised mark the 19th anniversary of the company.

At the event, Ncell said the Foundation’s vision is to foster a more inclusive, connected and sustainable Nepal and contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with 3 clear objectives: 1) Supporting those who need it the most, 2) Bridging the digital divide and 3) Fostering a more healthy, sustainable and enriching Nepal.

Ncell has a remarkable track record of supporting to high impact causes.During the 2015 earthquake, Ncell contributed Rs. 100 million to the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund to support families affected by the devastating earthquakeand another NPR 1.6 billion worth of communication support was extended to help families stay connected.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Ncell contributed Rs. 100 million to support the government’s procurements of protective gear, PCR testing kits. And in Jajarkot after earthquake last year, Ncell supported the Karnali Province Government with immediate support of Rs. 5 million for for rescue, treatment, and relief of earthquake victims and alsohelped build classrooms in 10 government schools so children could go back to school.

Similarly, in 2014, Ncell supported the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund with Rs. 200 million to help the flood and landslide victims from different parts of the country.

At the 19th anniversary event, Ncell Foundation committed to contribute at least Rs. 200 million to social causes over the next 5 years.

“Ncell is not just putting up towers and connecting people or providing jobs, we are also stewards of society with a goal to be a trailblazer in CSR in Nepal, making a lasting impact and delivering on our motto—“Here for You,” said Kayumov.

Capping off the event, Ncell honoured Para-athlete Palesha Goverdhan, who recently made history at the Paris Paralympics 2024 by winning Nepal’s first-ever medal. Ncell’s CEO recounted the story of how Ncell decided to support Palesha last year.

“I remember very well that moment about a year ago, when we called up the Paralympic Committee saying we wanted to support them, they couldn’t believe it. It didn’t make PR or business sense but we wanted to support those who need it the most—the unseen or unsung heroes,” he said.

With the launch of the Ncell Foundation, aligned with its brand promise, ‘Today. Tomorrow. Together.,’ Ncell aims to strengthen and expand its efforts through meaningful social initiatives, connecting with local communities and addressing grassroots-level issues.

A new initiative, ‘19 for 19,’ under the Ncell Foundation, was also announced. This project will provide financial support of Rs. 1 million each to 19 social projects across the country’s seven provinces. Additionally, projects under the ‘18 for 18’ initiative, launched last year on Ncell’s 18th anniversary, are currently in the implementation phase.
Back in 2005, on this day—September 17th, Ncell embarked on its journey to connect Nepal and Nepali people. Since then, it has revolutionised the telecommunications industry by making access to essential communication services easy, reliable, and more affordable. “Our journey so far would not have been possible without the trust and support of our valued customers, partners and key stakeholders like government authorities, regulators, and the communities we serve. We are even more committed to many more years of togetherness as we support Nepal’s journey towards a digital future,” said Kayumov.

As one of the largest taxpayers in Nepal, the company has paid over Rs. 320 billion in taxes and fees since its inception, making a significant contribution to the country’s economy.

Starting with reliable basic mobile services and evolving into innovative communication solutions, Ncell has addressed various consumer needs. From basic 2G to modern 4G, from standard wireless mobile broadband to point-to-point leased line global connectivity, and from mobility to advanced cloud and data-centre co-location services, Ncell has evolved into a modern telecommunications company.

Ncell has numerous activities and events lined up as part of the 19th anniversary celebrations, including tree plantations, educational kit distributions in government/community-run schools, health camps, cervical cancer screening, blood donation, skill camp, and market visits to engage with and thank customers and retailers.