Nepal Telecom (NTC) made history on September 16, 2022, becoming the first mobile carrier in Nepal to launch eSIM services. Since then, the technology has expanded from a single counter at Sundhara, Kathmandu, to every NTC office across the country — and more recently, to a fully online activation system accessible right from your smartphone. With a target of distributing over one million eSIMs, Nepal is rapidly joining the global shift away from the physical SIM card.
An eSIM (Embedded SIM) eliminates the need to carry, insert, or swap a tiny plastic card. Instead, your mobile profile is stored directly inside your device's chip and can be provisioned remotely by NTC. This means faster setup, seamless dual-SIM support alongside a physical card, and connectivity on devices that never had a SIM tray — like the Apple Watch or the US-market iPhone 14. For trekkers venturing toward Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit, NTC's eSIM is particularly compelling: NTC's network reaches remote Himalayan corridors where other carriers simply have no signal.
The infographic below distils everything you need to know about NTC eSIM into one visual reference — from pricing and compatible devices to step-by-step activation paths, a head-to-head comparison with Ncell eSIM, and the critical warnings every user should read before switching. Whether you are a Nepali citizen converting an existing SIM or a foreign traveller landing at Tribhuvan International Airport, this guide has you covered.
One detail that catches many users off guard: once you convert your number to an eSIM, you cannot revert to a physical SIM card. This is a permanent change, so it is worth double-checking that your device fully supports the standard before visiting an NTC counter or submitting an online request. The quickest check is to dial *#06# on Android — if an EID number appears alongside your IMEI, your handset is eSIM-ready. On iPhone, the EID is visible under Settings → General → About.
The cost is refreshingly low. Existing NTC subscribers pay just Rs. 50 to convert their current number to an eSIM. Newcomers purchasing a brand-new NTC number pay Rs. 90 for the SIM registration plus the Rs. 50 conversion fee — Rs. 140 all in. For international visitors, tourist-specific packages offering 28 days of local data and calls are available for roughly $10–$12 USD, purchasable directly at the TIA arrivals hall. No extra SIM card, no fumbling with a pin tool at the gate — just scan a QR code and you are online before you reach the taxi queue.
As Nepal's digital infrastructure matures, eSIM adoption is set to accelerate sharply. NTC's partnership with Khalti now allows completely contactless eSIM purchases through the popular digital wallet, and the official portal at esim.ntc.net.np makes the entire process manageable from home. If you have an eSIM-compatible device and an NTC number, there is every reason to make the switch today — and very few reasons to stay tethered to plastic.
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