Connectivity — Nepal
What travelers need to know about connectivity in Nepal. What is legal at home can be a serious crime here — each rule links to its official source.
Connectivity in Nepal: prohibited — what is legal at home can be a serious crime here.
Do not bring a satellite phone, satellite messenger, walkie-talkie or ham radio into Nepal without a licence - it is an offence merely to HOLD one, and the penalty is seizure plus a fine equal to the full assessed value of the device. This catches trekking and expedition kit. Your ordinary mobile phone is exempt while you use a licensed network; but if you buy a local Nepali SIM you must register your phone IMEI with the NTA within 15 days, whereas roaming on your home SIM needs no registration at all.
Radio Act s.6(1): the Government or its designated authority SHALL SEIZE the radio machine, assess its value, and fine the holder a sum EQUAL TO THAT ASSESSED VALUE. Sections 6(2) and 7 further allow seizure of any radio machine suspected of connection to an offence, and seized or unclaimed machines devolve to the Government. The NEIR directive specifies no fine; its documented consequence is denial or blocking of cellular network service to an unregistered or non-genuine handset.
§ Nepal Telecommunications Authority - The Radio Act, 2014 (1957) official English text; NTA Interim Directives for the National Equipment Identity Registry (NEIR)-2072 Ver. 3