The World's Highest and Fastest Cell Service Could Have Geopolitical Implications

While most of China was quarantined and Mount Everest was closed to climbers due to COVID-19, a herd of nearly 50 yaks made their way up the snowy north slopes of the world's highest mountain in temperatures that dipped below zero degrees Fahrenheit. On their backs were loads of equipment--metal beams, cables, and solar panels strapped down with cord--that would be used to build 5G antennas on rocky moraines scattered across the mountainside. Chinese tech giant Huawei and state-owned network provider China Mobile teamed up for this project to bring the latest in wireless data to Everest, which previously had very little cell coverage above base camp. Now, data speeds in the "death zone" on Everest, where the altitude is too high and the air is too thin to support life, are faster than in most American neighborhoods. In a press release, Huawei stated that the new super-fast data speeds on Everest will be used for "smart tourism"--with high-definition video streaming and virtual reality experiences for digital tourists to "visit" Everest from anywhere in the world.