Ncell, Nepal's first private sector GSM mobile service provider, marked its 19th anniversary with the launch of the Ncell Foundation on Tuesday.

Issuing a statement, Ncell said that the foundation will focus on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, with a commitment to contribute Rs 200 million over the next five years.

According to Ncell, this contribution aims to benefit Nepalis through projects that enhance connectivity, reduce the digital divide, and improve access to education, health, and environmental resources.

“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. 

"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,” added Kayumov.

Ncell said it 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 earthquake and 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, the statement added. 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 also helped 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.

The Ncell Foundation's newly announced 'Nineteen for Nineteen' project will fund 19 social initiatives across all seven provinces of Nepal, with each project receiving Rs 1 million. This, according to the telecommunication company,  is a continuation of the previous year's 'Eighteen for Eighteen' initiative, which supported social projects at the provincial level.

Ncell, previously known as Mero Mobile, began its journey on September 17, 2005. Since then, the company claimed that it has brought transformative changes to Nepal's telecommunications sector, providing services that have radically altered how Nepalis communicate.

Starting with reliable basic mobile services and evolving into innovative communication solutions, Ncell said it 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.

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

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.

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.