COVID-19, a global pandemic was something unexpected. In a search for ways to get back to normal life, people started to work from home. In the same way, teach and learn from home became a vital everyday routine for teachers and students. Furthermore, several well-established organizations and tech companies started promoting online studies. Likewise, telecom service providers all around the world started facilitating education by introducing various data packs to conduct workshops, webinars, and online conferences.
In Nepal, telecom companies like NTC, Ncell, and Smart Telecom are playing significant roles in online education. Ncell and NTC are leading telecom service providers with commendable 4G coverage, whereas, Smart cell is still racing for it. Here, NTC introduced Happy Learning Pack which provides access to e-Sikshya as well. Similarly, Ncell collaborated with PABSON, private school associations, and brought Students Plan. Ncell even brought a mobile class data pack in collaboration with TU. Equally, Smart cell, an evolving company, brought Smart Lockdown Pack. Regardless of their names, all of these are data packs, exclusively meant for e-learning. For people in Nepal, these data packs can be very helpful to keep their children up to date with their online studies.
This post is all about comparison between e-learning data packs of NTC, Ncell and Smartcell. Moreover, through this post, we will be helping you to find a suitable data pack for yourself. So, make sure to read till the end
Nepal Telecom: Happy Learning Pack
Under NTC Happy Learning Pack, two data pack options are available: 24GB data pack and 35GB data pack. A 24GB data pack costs you Rs.315.In 24GB data, 20GB data type can be used to run e-learning apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. Whereas, remaining 4GB data can be used for any other applications. Similarly, a 35GB data pack costs you Rs.500.In 35GB data, 30GB data can be used to run Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet, whereas; remaining 5GB data type can be used for any other applications. Customers with GSM Data Services (2G, 3G, 4G) can use these data packs and both of them are valid only for 28 days.
Ncell: Student Plans
Ncell Student Plans offers 3 data options: 23GB, 26GB and 32GB. 23GB pack costs you Rs. 319,23, 26GB pack costs you Rs.446.92 and 32GB pack costs you Rs. 702.3. All of them offer 20GB data pack to use for Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. Along with this, there are 3 monthly data plans: A, B & C. Plan A offers 3GB regular data (1GB in 3/4 network + 2GB in 4G network). Similarly, Plan B offers 6GB data (2GB in 3G/4G network + 4GB in 4G network). Last but not the least, Plan C offers 12GB data(4GB in 3G/4G network + 8GB in 4G network).
As combo data packs, Plan A offers 120-minute call within CUG Network every day, 50 minutes on-net call every month and 50 on-net SMS every month. In the same way, Plan B offers 120-minute call within CUG Network every day, 150 minutes on-net call every month, 10 minutes off-net call every month and 50 on-net SMS every month. And Plan C offers 120-minute call within CUG Network every day, 250 minutes on-net call every month, 50 minutes off-net call every month and 100 on-net SMS every month. These data packs can be used in 3G and 4G networks and all of them are valid for 30 days.
Smart: Smart Lockdown Pack
Smart Lockdown Pack offers its customers more data than ever before. In this pack, you’ll get 45GB data at Rs.299 (exclusive of taxes) which you can use for online learning, work, or any other purpose. This 45GB data is an all-time data. So, you can use it whenever you like. Further, this pack is available in 4G coverage area. So, be sure to connect your handset with a 4G network. Lastly, it will remain valid up to 30 days. Hence, be sure to use it within the time imit.
These data packs and plans are really useful when it comes to e-learning and spending fruitful time online. Now, let’s have a quick comparison between these 3 data packs.
NTC vs Ncell vs Smart: e-learning Data packs
Now, we are presenting you with a complete comparison between e-learning data packs of NTC, Ncell, and Smartcell. The upcoming table discusses data volume, types of data packs, combo/additional data packs, validity, and total cost of those e-learning data packs.
| E-learning Data Pack Offers | Ncell Student Plans | NTC Happy Learning Packs | Smart Lockdown Pack |
| Data Volume | 23GB, 26GB and 32 GB | 24GB and 35GB | 45GB |
| Data Packs | Currently, 3 data pack plans are available: A, B & C. All of the data packs offer 20GB data to use for Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. In addition to it, separate plans are available for, which are discussed below: Plan A 3GB all time data(1GB in 3G/4G network + 2GB in 4G network) Plan B 6GB data (2GB in 3G/4G network + 4GB in 4G network) Plan C 12GB data(4GB in 3G/4G network + 8GB in 4G network) | 24GB Data Pack 20GB Data for e-learning apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet + 4G regular data for any other applications) 30 GB Data Pack 30GB Data for e-learning apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet + 5G regular data for any other applications) | 45GB data (in 4G network) for e-learning apps and to work from home. |
| Combo/Additional Data Packs | For Plan A: 120-minute call within CUG Network everyday 50 minutes on-net call every month50 on-net SMS every month For Plan B: 120-minute call within CUG Network everyday 150 minutes on-net call every month10 minutes off-net call every month50 on-net SMS every month For Plan C: 120-minute call within CUG Network everyday 250 minutes on-net call every month50 minutes off-net call every month100 on-net SMS every month | Happy Learning Pack has no such additional packs. | Smart Lockdown Pack doesn’t have any combo packs too. |
| Validity | 30 days | 28 days | 30 days (6AM to 6PM) |
| Total Cost | Rs. 319.23 for 23GB pack Rs 446.92 for 26GB pack Rs 702.3 for 32GB pack | Rs. 315 for 24GB Rs. 500 for 35GB | Rs.299 for 45GB data |
After learning all these details, you must be wondering about how to subscribe to these data packs. If so, here is a brief detail about it as well:
How to subscribe to NTC Happy Learning Pack?
If you are willing to subscribe to NTC Happy Learning Pack, then follow below listed steps:
- Firstly, contact your educational institution: school/college/university.
- Then the institution will send an email to [email protected], the mailbox of Nepal Telecom including names and respective contact numbers of its teachers and students.
- Afterwards, Nepal Telecom will send you a confirmation message.
- Confirm the message.
- Then dial *1441# and select the data package which you’d like to use. Remember that there are 2 data pack option: 24GB & 35GB.
- SEE graduates can also enjoy this service. Besides Happy Learning Pack, they have access to e-Shikshya Pack as well.
How to subscribe to Ncell Student Plans?
Just like NTC, Ncell is racing to facilitate e-learning during this pandemic period as well. So, anyone willing to subscribe to Ncell’s Student Plans must work in accordance to below listed guidelines:
- Ncell offers a Special SIM for e-learning, which comes with voice pack, data pack and combo pack.
- To get the SIM, you must first, get a recommendation letter from your institution.
- Then you’ll have to send an email to [email protected] with your mobile number.
- It’s a compulsion for the letter to be in the institution’s letter head.
- Only after this, you can take the Special SIM under your own name or your institution’s name.
- You can also activate Ncell’s Student Plan in your existing Ncell SIM card. For this, dial *17149#. But for CUG service, you’ll need your institution’s recommendation.
How to subscribe to Smart Lockdown Pack?
This year, along with NTC and Ncell, emerging companies like Smart cell are also contributing to e-learning. So, people interested in subscribing to Smart Lockdown Pack can simply dial *141*7*1*1# and activate the service. Only a single step is involved in the subscription process of Smartcell’s Smart Lockdown Pack. Hence, it’s extremely easy to subscribe and use this pack.
NTC vs Ncell vs Smart: Who’s the Winner?
Ncell, NTC, and Smart cell are trying their best to facilitate e-learning and please people in every possible way. Hence, their initiatives are truly praiseworthy. Therefore, we suggest you go through data pack options of each company briefly and find the one, which meets your need the most. Hope our post was of great help for you.
