Ncell Begins Issuing New Mobile Numbers Starting with 971

Ncell has begun issuing mobile numbers under a new number range, 971, following approval from the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).

The NTA granted Ncell permission to use the new range on May 28, 2025, as the existing ranges—980, 981, 982, and 970—were no longer sufficient to accommodate new SIM card users, Ncell said in a statement on Monday, December 8.

“We are thankful to the NTA for granting approval for this new number range…At a time when the use of mobile phones has expanded beyond basic communication to include digital transactions and access to various services, these new numbers will benefit both consumers and various service providers,” the statement quoted Upanga Dutta, Chief Consumer Business Officer of Ncell, as saying. 

Ncell has urged government agencies, banks, service providers, and other organisations to integrate the new 971 number range into their systems to ensure seamless service delivery.