According to Reuters, the installation could aid thousands of climbers who visit the Mount Everest region of Solukhumbu every year to try and conquer the imposing mountain. Previously they had to depend on expensive satellite phones to communicate with loved ones.

 

"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," said Lars Nyberg, chief of Nordic telecoms firm TeliaSonera, which owns 80 percent of Ncell.

 

One of the first things that was attempted utilising the new connection was making the world's highest altitude video call. "Today we made the (world's) highest video call from Mount Everest," Ncell chief Pasi Koistinen told reporters in Kathmandu, referring to the call made from 5,300 meters (17,388 feet), the area from where climbers begin the actual climb to Mount Everest.

 

Ncell and TeliaSonera is planning to spend over $100 million to expand internet facilities in Nepal next year to ensure mobile coverage to more than 90% of the Himalayan nation's population.