WorldLink Communications, a leading internet service provider in Nepal, has been rapidly expanding its free Wi-Fi services, with over 14,000 access points across the country, including Kathmandu. The company provides this service in support of the Digital Nepal initiative and plans to continue its expansion. Free Wi-Fi has already been installed at all airports, including Tribhuvan International Airport, as well as heritage sites such as Pashupatinath and Swayambhu, and various public places across the Kathmandu Valley. This initiative was undertaken at the request of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal and the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
A senior WorldLink official stated that the company aims to expand its free Wi-Fi hotspots to 15,000–20,000 locations within a year. However, telecom companies have been lobbying against the initiative, arguing that free Wi-Fi has significantly reduced mobile data consumption, affecting their revenue. Under this pressure, the regulatory body is now considering shutting down the service.
Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA) Chairman Bhupendra Bhandari has indicated that preparations are underway to discontinue WorldLink's Mobility Wi-Fi service. He confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding the termination of free Wi-Fi services provided by internet service providers (ISPs). According to Bhandari, telecom operators have lodged complaints, stating that free Wi-Fi has negatively impacted their earnings.
“We have received complaints from the industry that mobility Wi-Fi is reducing their income. We have also conducted monitoring,” Bhandari said at an event in Kathmandu last week. “Currently, 200,000 people use this service, consuming vast amounts of data.” He added that before making a final decision, the potential impact of shutting down free Wi-Fi on the telecom network would be assessed, and a contingency plan would be devised if issues arise.
Telecom companies have long argued that ISPs should not be allowed to provide "one-time registration" and "seamless connectivity" for free. At the same event, Ncell CEO Jabbor Kayumov urged the government to regulate free Wi-Fi, citing a significant decline in telecommunication service providers' revenue in recent years.
Nepal Telecom has also repeatedly requested the NTA to restrict ISPs from expanding free Wi-Fi services. “We have written to the Authority multiple times to stop ISPs from providing free Wi-Fi. We have to pay Rs 20 billion for GSM mobile license renewals, while ISPs offer free Wi-Fi by paying just Rs 400,000–500,000. If this continues, who will operate GSM mobile services? How will we survive in the market?” Nepal Telecom spokesperson Hari Dhakal told New Business Age .
The telecom industry has already suffered losses due to a decline in revenue from voice services. Kayumov warned that if this trend continues, it will hinder investment in fifth-generation (5G) technology.
WorldLink officials acknowledged discussions about shutting down free Wi-Fi and argued that doing so would violate consumer rights. “Can’t we even provide a small portion of our service for free? Access to free Wi-Fi is also a consumer right. No one should interfere with consumer rights in the name of profit,” said a WorldLink representative on condition of anonymity. The official further explained that free Wi-Fi is provided through agreements with local-level authorities, guthis, and monasteries, ensuring proper user data management and security. The company claims that no security issues or fraudulent activities have been reported due to its free Wi-Fi services.
WorldLink’s Market Share Nears One-Third
WorldLink Communications remains the largest ISP in Nepal, holding a 31.78% market share as of mid-February in the current fiscal year, according to the latest Nepal Telecommunication Authority report. It serves 972,781 customers, significantly outpacing Nepal Telecom, which has the second-largest market share at 11.43% with 321,758 customers. Other ISPs in the market include DishHome, Subisu Cable (11.23%), and Vianet Communications (7.91%). As of mid-February, a total of 3.061 million customers receive internet services from ISPs.
