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Mobile broadband reaches Mount Everest area
28 Oct 2010 | 12.31 Europe/London
Mobile broadband has come to Mount Everest as TeliaSonera unveils the world’s highest 3G base.
The base in the Khumbu Valley is located at 5,200 metres above sea level (Mount Everest’s peak is at 8,850m) and enables Nepalese villagers, walkers and climbers to surf the net, email and make calls at far cheaper cost than an equivalent satellite phone.
TeliaSonera’s subsidiary in Nepal, Ncell, claims that although mobile penetration has been traditionally low in the country, it is due to rise from 15% to 30% of the population during 2010. There are already 3m subscribers to its digital mobile phone network and claims that 3G will boost the number further as the company invests $100m to roll out its mobile phone network to cover 90% of the population by the end of 2011.
Lars Nyberg, President and CEO of TeliaSonera commented: “We are very proud to announce the world’s highest mobile data service as we launch 3G services in the Mount Everest area in the Khumbu valley. From its perch on the world’s tallest mountain, 3G high speed internet will bring faster, more affordable telecommunication services to the people living in the Khumbu Valley, trekkers, and climbers alike.”
The base in the Khumbu Valley is located at 5,200 metres above sea level (Mount Everest’s peak is at 8,850m) and enables Nepalese villagers, walkers and climbers to surf the net, email and make calls at far cheaper cost than an equivalent satellite phone.
TeliaSonera’s subsidiary in Nepal, Ncell, claims that although mobile penetration has been traditionally low in the country, it is due to rise from 15% to 30% of the population during 2010. There are already 3m subscribers to its digital mobile phone network and claims that 3G will boost the number further as the company invests $100m to roll out its mobile phone network to cover 90% of the population by the end of 2011.
Lars Nyberg, President and CEO of TeliaSonera commented: “We are very proud to announce the world’s highest mobile data service as we launch 3G services in the Mount Everest area in the Khumbu valley. From its perch on the world’s tallest mountain, 3G high speed internet will bring faster, more affordable telecommunication services to the people living in the Khumbu Valley, trekkers, and climbers alike.”