Ncell, one of Nepal’s biggest foreign investors, is taking its first bold step towards a 5G vision by announcing a new campaign to waive all unintended charges for mobile data. The campaign is named Sadhain ON (Always On), and the rationale is to empower Nepali customers to always keep their data on without fearing that their balance will be ‘khattam' (over), the company said.

“Consumer needs are changing, and as more and more mobile phone users conduct their daily tasks online —from banking to shopping to commuting—users need their internet data to be always on,” said Ncell CEO Jabbor Kayumov.

The idea is to change Nepali customers' data usage behaviour in line with the rest of the world. Currently, whether with Ncell or other local operators' data plans, if a customer’s data plan finishes, he or she may not be aware that the various apps on his or her smartphone will continue eating up the remaining balance without the customer realising it.

This was a problem Ncell wanted to urgently fix. Ncell says with Sadhain ON—not only is Ncell committing to ‘no more balance khattam’ for customers but also simplifying user experience by reducing the number of data packs from over five dozen to 20.

Ncell said this two-pronged campaign has an even bigger objective: to prepare Nepali customers for 5G.

“5G is the future of wireless technology and will revolutionise how businesses and economies function. More than 60 countries already have it. After India, we want Nepal to be the first country in South Asia to introduce 5G commercially. But to get there, we need to take an important first step, and that is, we need every Nepali to start using their mobile phones productively, which means, keep your data always on,” said Kayumov.

With Sadhain ON, Ncell is offering eight new plans under three categories—Basic, Best and Unlimited—starting at Rs98 per week to Rs1,499 for 28 days i.e. a month. Each plan bundled with data, all Nepal call talk time and all Nepal SMS, come at a two times cheaper rate. That is not all; customers also get free social media data.

For instance, if a customer subscribes to the Basic Plan of Rs99, they get 2GB of data, 1GB of free social media data, 49 minutes of all Nepal call talk time, and 49 all Nepal SMS valid for seven days. Similarly, customers choosing to subscribe to the Rs499 plan under Best Plans are entitled to get 12GB data, 5GB free social media data, 499 minutes of all Nepal call talk time, and 499 all Nepal SMS with a validity of 28 days.