Nepal Telecom launched NTTV, which is its IPTV service, on January 1, 2021. For ages, the IPTV and VoD service was a plan in NTC’s book. I heard about integrated TV, Data, and Voice services from NTC on FM radio in 2013. Finally, with the expansion of NTC FTTH service, the triple play and NTTV have caught up. In 2021, I also upgraded from ADSL to NT Fiber. Then in 2023 October, I upgraded the package to triple play to have NTTV as well. So this is a full review of Nepal Telecom NTTV where we discuss on service, experience, quality, VoD, and NTTV app.
Back in 2021, NTC launched the NTTV service which was a big milestone. It made Nepal Telecom the only company in the market to provide triple play (TV, Data, and Voice) in one package through one fiber cable to home users. Since the launch, NTC has provided TV connections through its FTTH infrastructure to many people. I actually waited for Nepal Telecom NTTV to become mature and also because my old TV package through co-axial cable was already active. In the meantime, I was taking reviews from users and testing by going to the homes of friends. As I installed NTTV in 2023, I have brought the full review.
Nepal Telecom NTTV Installation
In order to have NTTV, users need to have FTTH service or NT Fiber. If you are an ADSL user then we have an article regarding NTC ADSL to NTC FTTH Migration guide. The NTC also upgrades older copper cable connections by itself. If you already have an FTTH connection from NTC and if you are using their internet or telephone then it is very easy. Even if you are new and you don’t have NTC Fiber at home then also it is quite easy. All you need to do is go to the nearest Nepal Telecom office.
People who already have an NTC connection (ADSL/FTTH) just need to fill few forms and then pay the required amount as per the package of their choice. If you already have a package in use then no need to worry because the price will be adjusted accordingly so you don’t lose any money. In case of a new connection, a few forms, photos, proofs, and documents are necessary. Then you need to choose the package you want.
Also Read: Nepal Telecom FTTH Internet Price, Package, Speed, and Offers
Router/ Set Top box Purchase and Installation
For both new customers and old customers, NTC will provide a set-top box from the office. The set top box costs extra money but there are a few packages that give set-top boxes for free. Thus I also chose the 1-year NT Fiber Internet + 1 NTTV + 1 Telephone package that just costs Rs 12,000 and provides a free set-top box. It is of incredible value because the NTTV set top Box actually costs Rs 3,800 according to Nepal Telecom’s website.
After the administrative part and sales part, the NTC staff will put settings on the set-top box and router if you are getting a new router. Then all we need to do is install at our home.
In the case of new customers, NTC field staff will come to your home to put a fiber drop cable from the OTB box at the electrical pole near your hose to your room. They will set up your CPE/router for internet, telephone, and NTTV. In case you already have FTTH and just added Nepal Telecom NTTV service then also the staff will come to your home to install the set top box.
If the router and TV room are very far apart, then you need to install a LAN cable. If you ask the field staff they can do that for you as well but it will cost extra because LAN cable isn’t sold by NTC. You can either buy it yourself or ask the field staff to purchase and install it for you.
How to Install Nepal Telecom NTTV Set Top Box by Yourself?
If you ever change room or need to remove the router, set top box then you need to know the installation. NTC Staff can come and help to remove and reinstall but it is better to learn yourself as well. If you are technically sound then you can do the first install as well. All you need to do is put the top box near the TV. Connect the TV and setup box with HDMI cable. Connect the adapter and provide power.
Then connect the Nepal Telecom NTTV set-top box to the NT Fiber FTTH router with LAN/Patch/Ethernet cable. Remember to put the LAN cable on the LAN4 port of the router. (Note: First run, test, and setup should be done at NT office for settings and update)
Also Read: Nepal Telecom FTTH Review: Speed Test, Stability and Comparisons
Service and Channels
In the start, Nepal Telecom NTTV had basic and premium packages. However, there is currently just a premium package. This means whatever amount you pay, you get all the channels on the IPTV Live TV service. This basically means everyone gets all the channels. However, as per the government’s new rule of ‘A La carte package’, it could soon change. In this people could add channels they like and pay for channels subscribed to. Nepal Telecom NTTV can soon have the ‘A La carte package’ too.
For now, in the Nepal Telecom NTTV channel list, there are around 165 channels. There a a lot of Nepali channels, very few Hindi News channels, almost all sports channels, a good collection of religious channels, tons of entertainment, and Hindi drama channels. The TV channel list is available at (https://www.nttv.com.np/).
In my review period before installation, I saw one issue some channels were showing the 40 Mbps connection package and some were absent in the 20 Mbps package. This may be a bug and when I asked at NTC/ NTTV customer care number 198, I was told to dial the channel number. Then the channel came. In the case of my 20 Mbps connection, that channel was already showing in the list. So if you are missing any channel, call 198 and ask about the channel. If Nepal Telecom NTTV has it they will tell you the number or fix it and if they don’t have they will let you know.
TV Experience on NTC NtTV
We have uploaded a whole video on YouTube regarding Nepal Telecom NTTV unboxing, components, remote, accessories, TV channel experience, VoD movies, YouTube, and the whole experience. If you want to really see the performance of Nepal Telecom’s IPTV service then do watch the video entirely. The video shows everything and can satisfy you with many questions or queries.
The installation process is super easy and the set-top box is also very small. So that part is quite neat in Nepal Telecom NTTV. In terms of experience, let us start from the beginning. At first, the set-top box may take some time to start which is very normal with almost every set top box. Then the welcome screen or the home screen where we can choose to see ‘Live TV’, watch movies, watch YouTube, or go to settings.
Live TV consists of many channels and they are arranged quite neatly into categories. In my experience all the channels are clear and there is no disturbance of video or audio at all. After shifting from co-axial copper TV service to Fiber or digital TV, I really experienced the difference. To be honest Digital TV from my past service provider was also good for HD channels but they had a lot of downtime and channel disturbances.
Nepal Telecom NTTV is superior and the channels have no lag at all during play. The only lag is during channel change. We have to wait about 3-5 seconds for channels to change. Except that all video and audio play smoothly. HD channels look amazing and even SD channels are very clear.
In our one-month usage, we never faced any downtime. Even when the internet goes for a short time like 2 minutes or 5 minutes, the TV still comes on. So there is no worry in that case. Neither heavy TV usage nor heavy concurrent internet usage have an effect on each other.
One more issue we faced and heard is of freeze/hang. If we keep watching the same channel for a long time, it freezes. The solution is to change channels and come back again. In some cases, we heard NTTV would not come. In that case, restarting the Nepal Telecom NTTV set top box by letting it rest for a few minutes after powering off and restarting the main router helped.
Also Read: Best ISP in Nepal
VoD and YouTube
Nepal Telecom NTTV has YouTube streaming and Video on Demand (VoD) as well. We can easily go to the YouTube app from the home screen or the remote and watch videos we like. We can sign in with an account or just use the app normally. The YouTube app is pretty fast and even with a basic package of 20 Mbps (upgraded to 50 Mbps) provides fantastic 1080p streaming on YouTube. The speed and quality are great for watching movies and videos.
On top of Live TV and YouTube, there is a movie section as well. This is the VoD we are talking about. Nepal Telecom NTTV has a few movies in its collection that can be watched for free or purchased. In the future, the company might expand the catalogue for paid movies which will be truly VoD. While using the movies provided, I had a smooth experience.
There is one more secret on the Nepal Telecom NTTV. In some of the new remotes, there is a Netflix button that opens the Netflix app. However, the Netflix app can’t be found on the home screen. So if you are lucky to have the new remote and set top box, then you can open the Netflix app and login with paid credentials to enjoy streaming. We have to keep in mind that YouTube and Netflix streaming will eat the daily data cap or FUP limit while TV won’t eat the bandwidth.
NTTV App: Watch TV on The Go
Just like other ISPs and TV service providers, Nepal Telecom NTTV also has a mobile app for users. All NTTV subscribers can use this app on their smartphones or tablets to watch TV when they are not in front of the TV. It may have a limited login number but at least one user is definitely allowed in the basic package.
For example, you may be on the go or traveling, and in that situation, you may have data, and WiFi to see some news or sports then, you can log in to the app and see the Live channel. The feed that comes in the app arent available on the internet for free. So that is special. Another scenario is you are posted in a different district other than your home. In your quarter or place you may have WiFi but don’t want TV then you can use a tablet or phone to see TV, news, and shows just by using login credentials.
I have tested the app and TV streaming in the app is flawless. However, there are few channels compared to the set-top box and some features are not available yet. We tried screen recording to show the app but due to security reasons, the live TV stream comes black.
In order to use the Nepal Telecom NTTV App, download the application from the App Store. Go to register and enter the mobile number that is linked to your FTTH or NTTV service. Then create a password, provide the Mac ID of the set-top box, and then log in to use the app. This password-creating or change process changes the default NTTV password (12345678) of the set-top box. The box may not ask immediately but keep the password written so that all your family members can access it if required.
Conclusion: Pros and Cons
Let us conclude the Nepal Telecom NTTV review with a simple pros and cons list. This can easily summarize the whole service. The Pros of Nepal Telecom NTTV are as follows.
- NTC TV Package prices are affordable considering internet, voice, and TV.
- TV Uptime is 99%.
- A considerable amount of TV channels.
- Feature-packed Set Top Box.
- No lag in Live TV.
- No relation between Internet speed and Live TV streaming.
- NTTV App for online streaming on mobile.
- Free 300 MB daily mobile data on specific Triple Play packages that come with a TV
- Service is available in most cities and rural places of Nepal where NTC has an office.
The cons of Nepal Telecom NTTV are as follows.
- If optical fiber is damaged, all communications and entertainment go down at once.
- Small lag during channel change.
- Channels may freeze after a long viewing period.
- NTTV is not available as a standalone service. So the Internet is a must.
Also Read: NTC Mobile Data Pack Price, Offers
