WorldLink Communications, a long-standing leader in the broadband internet sector, has further solidified its market dominance over the past year.

Nepal Telecom, a state-owned enterprise, has also made substantial gains in the fixed broadband internet market. According to the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA), as of mid-December, WorldLink’s customer base reached 952,147, representing 31.88% of the total broadband internet subscribers.

This reflects a 4.21 percentage point increase compared to the same period last year. A company official stated that WorldLink is leveraging foreign investments to expand its services into rural areas.

In October 2019, the UK’s development finance institution CDC Group committed Rs 1.35 billion in investment to WorldLink. The CDC Group later rebranded as British International Investment (BII) in 2022. In March 2023, BII and Dolma Impact Fund jointly invested Rs 1.98 billion in the company. Furthermore, in mid-December, Finland’s development finance institution, Finnfund, signed an agreement to invest €10 million (Rs 1.43 billion) in equity in WorldLink.

“With the foreign investments received, WorldLink is delivering high-quality internet services to some of the most remote villages in the country,” the official added.

With the Finish investment, WorldLink Communications plans to expand its fiber network and build Nepal’s first Tier 3 data center. The investment aims to address the significant broadband gap in Nepal, where nearly half the population lacks internet access, particularly in rural areas. By leveraging advanced technology from Nokia, WorldLink is set to enhance the speed and reliability of internet services, improving connectivity across the country. The Tier 3 data center is expected to not only support WorldLink’s operations but also benefit other internet service providers, telecoms, and both public and private organisations, contributing to economic growth.

WorldLink, the largest internet service provider in Nepal, currently holds a 35% broadband market share, serving over 900,000 households in 73 of the country’s 77 districts. The company’s focus on bridging the urban-rural digital divide aligns with Finnfund’s mission of promoting affordable and reliable internet access in underserved areas. 

Nepal Telecom, which ranked sixth last December with an 8.94% market share, has climbed to second place this year. The company now serves 347,375 customers, accounting for 11.63% of the market. This represents a 2.69 percentage point increase compared to last year. Nepal Telecom spokesperson Hari Dhakal attributed this growth to the availability of competitively priced internet service packages.

In terms of market share, Dish Media Network ranks third with 334,126 customers, representing 11.19% of the market. Although Dish Media slightly increased its market share compared to last year, Nepal Telecom’s significant growth caused it to drop to third place. Meanwhile, other providers like Subisu, Websurfer, CG, and WiFi Nepal have shown steady market share growth, while companies such as Classic Tech, Vianet, Techminds, and Broadlink Networks have seen declines.

According to NTA, Classic Tech’s market share has dropped by 3.89 percentage points, Vianet’s by 2.06 percentage points, and Techminds’ by 2.05 percentage points compared to the same period last year.

“Companies that initially attract customers with cheap schemes but fail to meet their demands over time may experience a decline in customers,” noted a senior NTA official. He added, “The lack of investment, higher package prices, and neglect in addressing customer grievances promptly may also have contributed to the shrinking market share of some providers.”