In Nepal, affordable broadband has only reached a quarter of households. And it’s even harder to get people outside the capital, Kathmandu, connected. WorldLink is an internet service provider trying to change this. It reaches customers in some of the least connected parts of Nepal.
We first invested in the company in 2019, investing $12 million to support the company to increase internet access in the country. To date, the company has already connected 750,000 households and SMEs in Nepal.
In 2022, we invested a further $8.4 million. The company will use our latest investment to continue its internet expansion activities across the country, with a focus on rural areas. It plans to reach more than 1.3 million customers by the end of 2025, with 70 per cent based outside Kathmandu.
In addition to its ability to provide better and affordable internet access, WorldLink is also one of the largest employers in the country with around 5,000 employees. Our recent investment will help to create an additional 1,000 jobs and provide skill enhancement training for the employees.
1.3m
households connected by 2025
5,000
people employed by WorldLink
