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How High is Your AP?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the we've-been-promised-a-wireless-topic dept.

DeAshcroft writes "The New York Times has a piece [give up your data] on the wiring of Everest. Tsering Gyaltsen, the grandson of one of Sir Edmund Hillary's orignal summit-conquering Sherpas is bringing the net to the mountain (presumably bringing the mountain to the net was even more difficult). He's attracted a great set of 'technologists' to make this happen, and, best of all, it means the locals get access (including a school of about 250 students), not just the rich geeks who come to town to climb the thing."

3 of 56 comments (clear)

  1. Good. by neksys · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Here's an example of exploiting the rich in a manner that benefits everybody. The wireless internet access will cost the soon-to-be adventurers $2000-$5000 per expedition - which, according to the numbers given, is only a small addition to the $65,000 typically already paid per person for the expedition. Surely people who can afford the ascent can afford the added cost of WiFi access. The beauty part is that the profits go to the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee, a nonprofit environmental group. So in effect, the poor are exploiting the rich in their need for all the creature comforts - and doing so in a way that benefits everybody.

  2. Re:Obcene by macaddict · · Score: 3, Insightful
    The people who live there don't even have access to clean water. This is obcene

    Yes, because we all know that people in third world countries are too ignorant to make their own decisions. It's a good thing we have paternalists to point out the error of their ways. Should we also prevent them from having internet access so we can preserve their culture for them, too?

    I guess I'm just being naive when I trust that Mr. Gyaltsen can make his own decisions on how he can best help his neighbors.

  3. Priorities? by Hoi+Polloi · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I guess the priorities in that part of Nepal are:

    1. Internet access
    2. Medical Care
    3. Sewage treatment
    4. Environmental Degredation
    5. Education, Etc...

    You may live in squalor but at least you'll be able to trade mp3's and download porn!

    "Here is your T1 line courtesy of your friends in the US!"

    "Thanks, but did you bring any cooking oil?"

    --
    It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning