To accommodate tourists and mountaineers, Tanzania has installed high-speed internet on Kilimanjaro, the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. The Tanzanian Minister of Information calls the installation at an altitude of 3720 meters “historic”.
Mount Kilimanjaro reaches 5895 meters above sea level. The mountain is home to three volcanoes, two extinct and one dormant. “Previously, it was dangerous for tourists and climbers who were in the area without internet,” said Minister Nape Nnauye. Everyone can be reached to a certain extent from now on, by the end of the year Nnauye hopes to be able to offer internet access on the top of the mountain as well.
Mount Kilimanjaro is a popular tourist attraction and an important source of income for Tanzania. Every year about 35,000 people try to reach the mountain top. The area is part of the UNESCO World Heritage.
Mountaineers in more and more places in the world have access to the internet and other modern facilities. For example, climbers of Mount Everest encounter Wi-Fi access points and mobile charging stations on their way up.