Mount Kilimanjaro now how has high-speed internet, which allows visitors to contact search and rescue services more easily in an emergency, and means climbers don't have to wait until they're back at basecamp to share their selfies from the slopes.
As The Guardian reports, the broadband infrastructure was installed by the state-owned Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation, and should provide wireless connectivity up to 3,720 meters up the mountain.
"“Previously, it was a bit dangerous for visitors and porters who had to operate without internet,” said Tanzania's information minister Nape Nnauye at the official opening of the service.
The summit isn't yet connected, but Nnauye says that visitors should be able to get a signal at the peak next year.
Climbing Kilimanjaro
As the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain in the world, Kilimanjaro is extremely popular with tourists, and over the years strict regulations have been enforced to protect both visitors and the mountain's ecosystem.
In 1991, the Tanzanian government and Kilimanjaro National Park (where the mountain is located) passed a law that all climbers must be accompanied by a licensed guide, and must register with the Parks Authority before starting their ascent. Visitors must also sign in at each camp along the way, and wild or dispersed camping is forbidden.
There are also various fees to pay, including a conservation fee, campsite fees, and a rescue fee in case of an emergency. These are on top of the price of your guide, but help may sure that the National Park and the mountain itself are cared for and preserved for generations to come.
