Ncell sales more than double

Ncell’s net sales more than doubled to Rs 5.35 billion in the second quarter (Q2) of 2011. TeliaSonera—the parent company of Ncell—has stated that the 108.6 percent growth was supported by continued strong subscription intake.

As of Q2 this year, Ncell’s total number of subscriptions has increased to 5.4 million, making it the GSM market leader in Nepal. In the same period last year, net sales were recorded at Rs 2.56 billion with subscriptions reaching 2.7 million.

“Ncell became the GSM market leader and revenues more than doubled compared to last year,” said Lars Nyberg, president and CEO of TeliaSonera in a press release issued on Wednesday. According to him, revenue from the voice service surged 120 percent.

Ncell—the first private sector mobile service operator in the country—had clinched the top spot from the state-owned Nepal Telecom during the period of mid-Feb to mid-Mar, 2011. TeliaSonera holds an 80 percent stake in Ncell.

In the second quarter subscriptions, Nepal, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan recorded the largest growths under TeliaSonera’s Eurasia market, with an increment of 0.6 million, 0.4 million and 0.1 million subscriptions, respectively. The Eurasia includes Ncell, Kcell in Kazakshstan, Azercell in Azerbaijan, Ucell in Uzbekistan, Tcell in Tajikistan, Geocell in Georgia and Moldcell in Moldova.

Sanju Koirala, corporate communication manager of Ncell, said the company has been adding more than 200,000 new subscribers every month on an average. She added that the company is primarily focusing on expanding voice service to new un-served areas.

In total, net sales of TeliaSonera—Europe’s 5th largest telecom operator—have increased by 3 percent in Q2 supported by Mobility Sweden, Kcell, Ncell and Yoigo in Spain. Its total subscriber base has increased to 159.4 million as of Q2.