Kilimanjaro about to be equipped with a high-speed internet connection? This is the objective set by the Tanzanian Minister of Information, Nape Nnauye, for the end of the year.
What if even the most remote, most “authentic” corners ended up succumbing to the madness of social networks? This is typically what is happening at Kilimanjaro (5895 meters above sea level) which should be equipped with a high-speed internet connection by the end of the year. The highest peak in Africa will therefore imitate the highest in the world, Everest, which has been equipped with Internet access since 2010.
On August 16, the network was installed at an altitude of 3720 meters. And already, the Minister of Information of Tanzania, Nape Nnauye, described the event as historic. The stated goal? Reinforce the safety of porters and climbers during their ascent. But there is no doubt that Internet access will also allow anyone equipped with a smartphone to broadcast their exploits in real time on Snapchat, Instagram or even Twitter… as if the race for the best “story” could not be paused during an ascent.
Today on Mount Kilimanjaro: I’m hoisting high-speed (broadband) INTERNET communications to the roof of Africa.Tourists can now communicate worldwide from the top of Kilimanjaro.WE GO TO PEAK UHURU.#royaltourcompliment#royaltoutpic.twitter.com/8x91GpEUQb
— Nape Moses Nnauye (@Nnauye_Nape) August 16, 2022
As a reminder, about 35,000 people attempt the ascent of Kilimanjaro each year, which represents an important source of income for Tanzania and Kenya. Could the fact that the summit is equipped with a broadband connection motivate new climbers? One thing is certain: long gone are the days when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached Everest for the first time on May 29, 1953. At the time, the news reached everyone only four days later, on May 2 June.