Okay Geek Farm
Mount Everest gets 3G Mobile Internet Access
Brandon Davenport
In spite of 3G getting “old”, and 4G coming into the mix, Nepali mobile network operator Ncell has installed the first 3G base station at the base camp of Mount Everest so that fellow climbers, visitors and residents can access the internet and make calls. To test out the new facility, Ncell made the world’s highest video call at 17,388 feet. That means this is 50% more awesome than originally thought.
In the past, people visiting and living in Mount Everest have had to rely on satellite phones to make calls, but thanks to modern tech, they can make standard GSM calls on a 3G-enabled network. Ncell Nepal chief Pasi Koistinen said that “The coverage of the network will reach up to the peak of the Everest,” but as of now it only covers one third of Nepal’s population.
TeliaSonera said it wants to invest $100 million in the next year to extend the existing coverage to more than 90% of the country’s population and CEO Lars Nyberg said that “This achievement is as mighty as the altitude as 3G high speed internet will bring faster, more affordable telecommunication services to the people living in the Khumbu Valley, trekkers, and climbers alike.”
In summary, this is one of the coolest technical achievements of the year, bringing a new world of content and communication to one of the highest places on earth. Make sure to bring your Smartphone next time you visit Mount Everest!
