Nepal Plans to Sell 34% of Nepal Telecom to the Public in Major Telecom Shake-Up

Nepal is preparing for a major shift in its telecom sector after Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle announced that the government will sell 34% of Nepal Telecom to the general public in the fiscal year 2083/84 budget speech. The state will keep a 66% ownership stake, preserving control while opening the company to broader public investment.

The sale is expected to be completed by mid-January, according to the budget announcement. Officials say the money raised from the divestment will be used to help develop Nepal into a global technology hub, signaling that the telecom move is being framed as part of a wider digital strategy rather than just a financial transaction.

A bigger public stake in a strategic state asset

Nepal Telecom is one of the country’s most important state-owned companies, so any change in ownership is likely to draw attention from investors, policy makers, and consumers alike. The government’s plan would significantly increase public participation in a company that has long operated under heavy state ownership.

While earlier reporting on Nepal Telecom ownership has varied over time, the latest budget announcement points to a clear policy direction: reduce the government’s stake, widen public ownership, and use the proceeds to support longer-term national development goals.

Why this matters for Nepal’s tech ambitions

The government’s decision appears to be about more than privatization. By tying the share sale to a broader ambition of building Nepal as a technology hub, the state is signaling that telecom infrastructure and capital markets are both part of the same economic playbook.

If the plan is executed smoothly, the move could bring in fresh capital, deepen public participation in a flagship enterprise, and potentially create more room for digital infrastructure investment. It could also help position Nepal Telecom as a more market-oriented company while keeping it under majority state control.

What to watch next

The biggest questions now are how the sale will be structured, who will be eligible to buy shares, and whether the timeline can be met by mid-January. Investors will also be watching for details on pricing, allocation rules, and how the government intends to use the proceeds once the divestment is complete.

For now, the announcement marks one of Nepal’s most notable telecom policy moves in years, and a possible turning point in how the country finances its digital future.