Now You Can Surf the Web As You Climb Everest
"Climbing Everest right now! Does anyone know where the bathrooms are up here? LOL!"
It's always been your dream to climb Mount Everest, but growing up in the generation you did, you can't imagine being without internet access for as long as it would take to get to the top. Heck, even the cell phone reception up there is patchy, you say. It's a sad way to be, but we won't judge. After all, we're here to bring you good news: You can now climb Mount Everest and update your Twitter at the same time.
Yahoo! News reports that Ncell, a subsidiary of Swedish phone giant TeliaSonera, has set up a high-speed 3G phone base station at an altitude of 5,200 metres (17,000 feet) near Gorakshep village in the Everest region. Ncell Chief Pasi Koistinen said that coverage would reach up to the peak of the Everest, adding that they'd already tested it out for themselves.
"Today we made the (world's) highest video call from Mount Everest base camp successfully," Koistinen said yesterday.
Previously, people had to rely on an "erratic" and costly satellite connection that sometimes wouldn't work for days.
"This is a great milestone for mobile communications as the 3G high speed internet will bring faster, more affordable telecommunication services from the world's tallest mountain," declared Lars Nyberg, CEO of TeliaSonera.
Though only 3,000 people have climbed Everest since Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay did it in '53, thousands of tourists flock to the Everest region each year.
Source: Yahoo! News
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How long do Cell Phone batteries last in that kind of cold
How long do Cell Phone batteries last in that kind of cold
Let's just say they aren't using iPhones, that's for sure.
And before I get bashed by Apple iDiots, they probably aren't using any standard consumer phone either, this isn't a Android > iOS argument, but I suppose that still won't stop some of you.
They have 3G service on mount everest, it would be nice if I could get at least 1xRTT where my vacation house is in the rural countryside.
that's right!!!!
I climbed the highest peak in the world so I can make the highest 3G phone calls in the world!!!
YAY, now I can follow the abominable snowman on twitter...
No wait, theres still no 3G in my area...
The last porn free spot in the world...conquered!
How long do Cell Phone batteries last in that kind of cold
Batteries do quite well in the cold weather because molecules move more slowly. They actually retain their charge for a longer period of time. On the down side, they produce less electricity. So, rub your hands together and warm up that cell phone before you make a call.
LCDs don't do well in the cold though... so sorry, no touch screen phones.
Oh well golly gee. We can have internet on Mt. Everest, but we get better service in our own country outside ANY major city and more then 5 miles from the nearest interstate freeway. I'll just start packing to move.
Excellent. This voiced my number one concern over my excursion to climbing one of the most deadly peaks in the world; will I be able to tweet at 29000 feet?
I can't even get 3g in my hometown! how pathetic!
The last porn free spot in the world...conquered!
There is no internet connection when i go hike in the High Sierra's canyons, glaciers and summits. Preferred to be that way as i want to get out of the tech savvy world once in awhile.
Just pay attention while climbing and don't get distracted.
I feel sorry for anyone climbing directly below me.
Now we're going to see a bunch of new international legislation proposals to prevent all the "texting while hiking" tragedies.
Damn kids.
Let's just say they aren't using iPhones, that's for sure.And before I get bashed by Apple iDiots, they probably aren't using any standard consumer phone either, this isn't a Android > iOS argument, but I suppose that still won't stop some of you.
Then wouldn't starting off without a fanboi rage starting comment be more mature? Hmm.
Anyway, I wonder if they use Iridium's like we have in the military, or if they have something completely different. The ones we use are tough as nails and waterproof, so I wonder how they handle cold. Other than that.. Like some people posted.. Kinda funny that Everest has 3G service while some urban areas have spotty or no service yet. Very funny.
Has Google streetview covered it yet?
Batteries do quite well in the cold weather because molecules move more slowly. They actually retain their charge for a longer period of time. On the down side, they produce less electricity. So, rub your hands together and warm up that cell phone before you make a call. LCDs don't do well in the cold though... so sorry, no touch screen phones.
I know my devices (lithium ion with a LCD, and a lithium polymer with a OLED) worked just fine in -30 Celsius, and apparently the average temperature on the peak of Everest is -36 Celsius,.
Not an ideal situation, but normal phones may work.
I would advocate the use of such technology for emergency only. Despite being immersed in it (just like so many other readers on THG), there are times I just want to get away from it all and rely not on a bunch of transistors, but on my wits.
I want places to remain wild, untamed and natural - not trampled on by tourists, border hoppers, corporate interests (including loggers), cars, trucks..roads. No mobile phones buzzing away. Just wilderness.
I know my post is not strictly aimed at this article; it's more of general gripe at the way a lot of people seem so eager to 'develop' what little we have left of our wilderness areas. If we're too greedy and ignorant to care, and if we keep filling it with roads..concrete..houses..people and all their technology, then there will simply be no places left in which we can be inspired to dream and pass on what we have to the next generation.
Sometimes you just need to recharge your own batteries.
YAY, now I can follow the abominable snowman on twitter...No wait, theres still no 3G in my area...
The Abominable snowman IS on twitter!
Check out his facebook page too.
ITS SNOWING @ EVEREST! I is there right NAO!
The last porn free spot in the world...conquered!
I don't think it's safe to get down and dirty with porn up there in mount everest..
I don't think it's safe to get down and dirty with porn up there in mount everest..
no...but you can stick your hand in yo pants!
Bottom line? You can call for help, but you'd better pray that your help can actually make it up to where you need it!
*phone rings*
*picks up phone*
*falls*
No more mountain climber.
*phone rings**picks up phone**falls*No more mountain climber.
LOL that would suck. Then we can blame iPhone for killing someone
Space station is next
and theres shitty signal in the city i live in? wht the fuck is wrong with epople's priorities?
lol o well...
Everest is one place I wish was free from technology. Keep it what it is, a challenge against humanity.
Didn't Everest get renamed to Mt Chomolungma? (Tibetan name).
Anyway, there's no point watching porn up there, because as soon as you whip it out it'd get frostbite.
Everest is one place I wish was free from technology. Keep it what it is, a challenge against humanity.
That would be K2, with a mortality rate of about 25% (not as bad as Annapurna's 40% though).
I agree though. I just got back from the country this weekend where I had very intermittent signal (Nokia 6300, 80km out from a city). Not being able to receive calls, sms or email was bliss ^_^.