Ncell uses low-orbit satellite links in Nuwakot where fibre was cut

What happened

The 26 August 2026 flood on the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers cut roads and damaged fibre and mobile networks. In response, Ncell set up satellite internet points at three locations in Nuwakot where communication had been badly affected. The company said more sites in other flood-affected areas were being added. Places chosen included affected communities, relief and holding centres, temporary camps and emergency response sites.

Ncell said it picked the locations together with government agencies working on rescue, relief and rehabilitation. The service is free. Dilli Ram Shrestha, Ncell's chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer, said the aim was to give immediate access to people in the worst-hit places. Ncell said it obtained the required approvals, including from the NTA. The reports do not give the speed, bandwidth or number of users each site can serve.

This was part of a wider response. Ncell said it had given free voice, data and SMS to more than 300,000 affected customers since the first day of the disaster. Its foundation also gave Rs 10 million to the Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. Ncell described the satellite service as a way to keep people connected while towers and fibre lines were being rebuilt.

The engineering behind it

The setup is simple to describe. A satellite sends the internet signal to a terminal on the ground. That terminal then creates a Wi-Fi network, so nearby people can connect with ordinary phones. As general knowledge, such a kit needs three parts working together: the satellite dish or flat antenna, a router with a Wi-Fi access point, and a power source. In a disaster zone, power often comes from a generator, batteries or solar panels.

The satellites matter. Ncell uses a low Earth orbit (LEO) service from Eutelsat. In general, LEO satellites fly a few hundred to about 1,200 km above the Earth. Older geostationary satellites sit about 36,000 km up. The shorter distance means a much smaller delay, which makes video calls and interactive apps work better. The cost is that LEO satellites move fast across the sky, so many satellites are needed and the ground terminal must track or switch between them.

Designing such a link uses a link budget. In general, engineers add up the power sent, the gains of the antennas, and every loss along the path, such as distance, rain and obstacles. The result shows whether enough signal reaches the receiver to carry data at the needed rate. In a deep valley, hills can block part of the sky, so the site for a terminal must be chosen with a clear view upward.

A satellite link is a backup, not a replacement. In general, one terminal shares a limited amount of capacity among everyone connected to its Wi-Fi. Fibre carries far more data at lower cost per user. This is why operators use satellite for urgent access and still rebuild fibre and towers for the long term.

What it means in Nepal

Satellite internet is tightly controlled in Nepal. The Kathmandu Post reported in July 2026 that Starlink has no licence in Nepal. Under existing rules, foreign investors may own up to 80 percent of an internet provider, with a Nepali partner holding the rest. Starlink wants full ownership, and officials say this disagreement is a main reason it has no licence. Communication Minister Bikram Timilsina said the government would not change the law for one company.

The NTA's assistant spokesperson, Pradeep Paudyal, told the Post that Nepali internet providers may buy wholesale bandwidth from any licensed international satellite operator. Two companies, Constellation and iFour Technology, hold licences for mobile satellite communication, but their services use geostationary satellites, which the Post describes as slower and more expensive than low-orbit service. Ncell's use of Eutelsat, approved for a disaster response, fits inside this approval-based system.

The rules are being tested from outside as well. The Post reported that Bangladesh's telecom regulator allowed Starlink to carry cross-border traffic through Bangladeshi infrastructure. Paudyal said this was unlikely to cause an immediate rise in illegal use, but that regulators would study it. He repeated that Starlink must register in Nepal and get permission before selling to consumers or receiving satellite signals in Nepali territory. The Post also reported that Starlink terminals were being used illegally in the Himalayan region, mainly by foreign trekkers and expedition groups.

For engineers, the Nuwakot setup is a field kit that combines several skills: choosing a site with a clear sky view, installing and pointing a terminal, setting up Wi-Fi and routing, and keeping power steady. It also shows the regulatory side of telecom work. Knowing which licence or approval a service needs is part of the job, and it decides how fast a network can be deployed when it is needed most.