SIP Trunking in Nepal 2026: NTC vs Ncell Pricing, Setup, and Verdict

SIP trunking can replace old phone lines with one internet-based phone connection that supports multiple simultaneous calls. In Nepal, NTC and Ncell both offer business SIP-based services, but the setup, pricing, and ideal use cases are different.

What SIP Means

SIP stands for Session Initiation Protocol. In plain language, it lets your office make and receive voice calls through a digital connection instead of relying on traditional copper landlines. A single SIP trunk can carry many calls at the same time, which makes it useful for offices that handle sales, support, reservations, or inbound customer calls.

The biggest advantage is flexibility. You do not need a separate physical line for every employee, and you can route calls through a PBX system to different team members, departments, or extensions.

SIP vs Landline

A traditional landline gives you one number and one call path per line. SIP lets one trunk handle multiple calls, so your office can scale more easily as demand grows. That makes SIP a better fit for businesses that expect higher call volume or need a more organized phone system.

SIP also works better with modern cloud PBX tools. Your team can use IP phones, softphones, or browser-based calling systems, depending on how you want to run operations.

NTC SIP PBX Pricing

NTC’s official SIP PBX tariff shows an entry plan with a 15-session setup and a monthly rental of Rs. 3,000, with tax added separately. The official tariff page also lists the installation and initial setup items, which means the first payment is higher than the monthly rental alone.

Based on the tariff page and the quotation structure you shared, NTC pricing is best understood as a corporate setup with an upfront cost and usage-based billing. 

• Digital number onboarding: Rs. 7,000.
• Initial deposit: Rs. 10,000.
• Across-network call charge: Rs. 2.05 per minute.
• Same-network call charge: Rs. 1.24 per minute.
• Base capacity: 15 concurrent calls.

NTC uses landline-style numbering, which can feel more familiar and trustworthy for many offices, hotels, banks, and service businesses. It also suits organizations that want a fixed office identity instead of a mobile-style number.

Ncell IP PBX Pricing

Ncell offers a business SIP/IP-PBX service, and the quotation you shared shows a base plan built around Rs. 5,650 for digital number onboarding and Rs. 3,500 per month for SIP rental. Plus Rs. 1 per minute across-network calling, 2,626 free minutes per month, and 60-second pulse billing.

Ncell’s number format uses a 97XXXXXXXX mobile-style number, which can be convenient for teams that want a number format customers recognize instantly. The no-fiber setup can also make deployment faster and easier for businesses that do not want to wait for a dedicated fiber installation.

This option often fits startups, SMEs, field teams, and growing businesses that want to launch quickly and keep the first-stage investment lower. It can also work well for companies whose callers mostly use mobile networks.

Cost Snapshot

Item	NTC SIP PBX	Ncell IP PBX
Number Type	Landline-style number	Mobile-style number
Upfront onboarding / Setup Cost	Rs. 7,000 (Inc. VAT)	Rs. 5,650 (Inc. VAT)
Security Deposit  (Consumable)	Rs. 10,000	Not Applicable
Monthly Rental	Rs. 3,390 base plan (15 sessions) (i.e., Rs. 226 per session)	Rs. 3,500 base plan (15 Sessions)
Free minutes	2,626 per month (applicable only for district-based Mobile & Landline)	1,500 per month (applicable for all network)
Across-network call rate (after free minutes consumed)	Rs. 1.42 / minute (Incl. TAX)	Rs. 1 per minute (Incl. TAX)
Same-network call rate	Rs. 1.27 per minute (Incl. TAX)	Rs. 1 per minute (Incl. TAX)
Pulse billing	60-Second pulse	10-second pulse
Concurrent calls	15 sessions & expandable with higher session option	15 sessions in base plan, with higher session option

Actual costs depend on on-net vs. off-net call mix and applicable VAT. Get a formal quote from both carriers before deciding.

Which One Fits

Choose NTC SIP PBX if you want a landline-style business number, a more corporate image, and a setup that fits offices with stable telecom infrastructure. It is a strong fit for hotels, banks, large offices, call centers, and organizations that care about a traditional office identity.

Choose Ncell IP PBX if you want faster deployment, mobile-style numbering, and a lower-friction setup for a startup or SME. It can also suit teams that make a lot of mobile-to-mobile calls and want a simpler rollout.

If your business needs both reliability and flexibility, a hybrid setup can work well. Some companies use one provider for inbound customer trust and another for outbound volume management.

How Setup Works

First, you choose the SIP provider and submit the onboarding documents. After that, the provider assigns your digital number and activates the trunk. Then you connect the trunk to a PBX system, either a cloud PBX or an on-premise PBX, depending on your technical preference.

Next, you add IP phones or softphone apps for your staff. Each person gets an extension, and your PBX routes incoming calls to the right person or team. Once the system is live, you can track call logs, missed calls, waiting time, and agent activity from the dashboard.

Common Mistakes

The first mistake is comparing only the headline price. A monthly rental may look low, but setup costs, deposit requirements, taxes, and usage rates can change the real total quickly.

The second mistake is ignoring call mix. If your business makes mostly same-network calls, one plan may be cheaper. If most calls go outside the network, the other plan may work better.

The third mistake is treating all SIP services as identical. Number format, session limits, installation requirements, and billing rules all matter in practice.

Final Verdict

NTC works best for businesses that want a traditional office number, a more formal telecom setup, and a corporate-style system with landline credibility. Ncell works best for businesses that want speed, flexibility, and mobile-style branding with a simpler rollout.

The actual decision depends on how many calls you handle, what kind of number your customers trust, and how quickly you want to go live. In short, NTC favors structure and office identity, while Ncell favors speed and operational ease.

FAQs

Q1: Can I keep my existing number?

In many cases, number migration or porting is possible, but you should confirm it directly with the provider before switching.

Q2: Do I need a physical PBX?

Not always. You can run SIP through cloud PBX software or a hosted PBX platform if you do not want to maintain physical hardware.

Q3: Is SIP legal in Nepal?

Yes. SIP services offered through licensed telecom providers are legal, and businesses should avoid unlicensed voice services.