On Thu, 28 Nov 2002, Gordon Cook wrote:
In 99 and 2000 there was an internet cafe in Namche. It depended for connection to the outside world on a microwave link on towers between Lukla and Jiri. In January 2001 the Maoists blew up the repeater towers leaving namche and the everest region without internet and telecom of any kind. For all of 2001 and most of 2002 Tsering went back and forth between namche and kathmandu, picking the brains of the ISPs and trying to reestablish internet and bring local phone services to the the towns of the Solu Khumbu. Finally with VSat and radio telephones and a PBX and copper wire, he brought up a small asset based telecom/internet system in the solu khumbu on october 19, 2002. he doesn't have a web site up yet. But by the Sanog meeting he should have an excellent site up. I spent several hours with him every day from november 3 through november 7th. His plans are fascinating and testimony to both his creativeness and that of the Nepali ISPs who are helping him. i intend to assist him in a number of ways as well.
If he does all he is setting out to do, he will put a floor of economic and political stability underneath the everest region. That region will be connected to the rest of the world as never before and there will be a web based repository of the region's history and culture and detailed information on all treking and climbing activities. I am much inspired by what i have seen and heard.
This story is a reminder to us all, to contribute (or talk our employers into contributing) time, money, personnel, or expertise to Geek Corps (www.geekcorps.org). Bring the internet to a third world country, and you greatly improve that country's economic outlook, and with that comes political and economic stability -- and another market for your company's product. --matthew@devney.net