May 6, 2008 12:44 AM PDT

Checking e-mail at 17,000 feet on Mt. Everest

by Graham Webster
  • Font size
  • Print
  • 2 comments
Share

China Mobile has opened a wireless service center and Internet cafe at an altitude of 17,000 feet at the Everest base camp, making it the world's highest such site, according to People's Daily Online.

According to reports, the Internet cafe is aiming to effectively protect the Olympic torch relay teams' communications needs at Mount Qomolangma in Tibet. China Mobile has built a business office and Internet cafe at an altitude of 5,200 meters at Mount Qomolangma base camp to provide mobile services and Internet services to government officials, mountain climbing members and journalists.

Maybe they'll add an oxygen bar for out-of-shape journalists with underdeveloped hemoglobin.

Formerly a journalist and consultant in Beijing, Graham Webster is a graduate student studying East Asia at Harvard University. At Sinobyte, he follows the effects of technology on Chinese politics, the environment, and global affairs. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
Recent posts from Sinobyte: China and technology
Leaving Sinobyte
Beijing Net cafes to take mug shots, scan IDs
Coming in 2009: Yourname@somewhere.中国
The court of bus riders: Why it's faster than driving in Shanghai
MIT: Dirty coal to blame for China pollution
Will Beijing's sustained driving restrictions maintain clear skies?
Skype's Chinese version left the surveillance door wide open
Man in China fined $277 for porn on drive, then forgiven
Add a Comment (Log in or register)
by Kev Orng May 6, 2008 5:19 AM PDT
I thought the world's highest Internet Cafe was in Amsterdam? Or maybe Vancouver.
Reply to this comment
by gthurman May 6, 2008 8:13 AM PDT
In today's world, they should, at a minimum, post the decimal lat-long of the location. To complete their Cafe installation, we also need an IP of a live web-cam, in case we'd like to drop by.
Reply to this comment
advertisement

About Sinobyte: China and technology

CNET Blog Sinobyte, written by Graham Webster, is focused on technology and its impact on Chinese politics, environment, and China's international affairs. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Sinobyte: China and technology topics