Chinese tech giant Huawei enters Nepal's market

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai (R Front) tries a new mobile phone during the launching program of Huawei mobile phone store in Katmandu, Nepal, Feb. 4, 2014. Huawei, a Chinese global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, officially entered into Nepal's market on Tuesday. (Xinhua/Tang Wei)

Huawei, a Chinese global information and communications technology (ICT) solutions provider, has officially entered into Nepal's market, on February 4, 2014.

Speaking during the launching program held in Kathmandu, Huawei representative Mr. Li Ji said that the Chinese tech giant in partnership with Nepal Telecom, the country's state owned telecommunication service provider, has the potential to bring a positive change in the lives of Nepalese nationals.

Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Wu Chuntai remarked that in the 21st century communicating is the key for productivity and growth of one's country.

"The cooperation between Huawei and Nepal Telecom will bring benefits to telecommunications consumers as well as boosting Nepal' s economic development," says Wu.

According to the Nepal Telecom Authority mobile penetration reached 72.58 percent in the country. Similarly, internet penetration in Nepal increased from 19.92 percent to 27.92 percent in the first quarter of the current fiscal year. Of the 7.3 million internet subscribers in the country, 6.9 million surf the net on their mobile phones.

Smartphones are increasingly popular in the Himalayan nation, as consumers demand internet access everywhere. Established vendors will battle to maintain their large Nepalese market share as Huawei provides similar products at a lower cost.

"Thanks to Huawei even people in rural areas will have access to high-speed internet," says Anoop Ranjan Chattarai, managing director of Nepal Telecom.

Peng Wei, the economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Nepal, said that customers will now have another choice in the local market and wished for the cooperation between Huawei and Nepal Telecom to be successful.

Call Mobility, an authorized distributor of Huawei in Nepal, has announced the opening of an exclusive "Experience Zone" to provide customers a personal experience of the brand's smart phones and utility services.

Huawei products and solutions have been deployed in over 140 countries, serving more than one third of the world's population. The country office of Huawei Nepal currently employs 200 staff, out of which 70 percent are Nepalese.