While the world’s tech hubs compete to build metaverses and roll out 6G networks, an equally exciting, albeit very different, digital revolution is unfolding in the heart of the Himalayas. The Nepalese government has announced an “IT Decade” (2024–34), backed by an ambitious goal to transform the country into a major information and communications technology (ICT) hub, export services worth Rs 3 trillion, and create 1.5 million direct and indirect jobs within a decade. This bold strategy, supported by a budget of Rs 7.25 billion for ICT in the 2024/25 financial year and a comprehensive Digital Nepal programme, paints a picture of a nation that is actively building its digital future.

However, these impressive figures hide a complex reality, which can be called Nepal’s “great digital paradox.” Official government sources proudly claim almost 100 percent internet penetration – 99.38%. At the same time, independent analytical reports such as Digital 2025: Nepal, present a more restrained picture: at the beginning of 2025, the share of active Internet users was 55.8%. This discrepancy is not just a statistical quirk, but a key to understanding Nepal’s unique digital ecosystem. The high figure likely accounts for every active SIM card, including basic 2G/3G connections used primarily for voice calls and SMS, while the lower figure reflects the actual number of people actively using the internet. This gap between infrastructure coverage and meaningful usage is the main driver of the trend we call “Nepalization.”