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Mount Fuji Gets 4G Wireless

Posted by timothy on from the bars-aren't-just-for-atmospheric-pressure dept.

alphadogg writes "Japan's most famous mountain now has 4G coverage. An LTE network on Mount Fuji went live Thursday, providing download speeds of up to 75Mbps on its peak, mountain trails, and rest huts. NTT DoCoMo, Japan's largest mobile operator, will provide access to its subscribers as part of its 'Xi' service. DoCoMo said it will provide the service from Thursday through the end of August, to correspond with the mountain's busy climbing season. Tourists are expected to turn out in record numbers this year because Mount Fuji has been named a World Heritage site by Unesco."

3 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Surprised! by hcs_$reboot · · Score: 2

    Many people climb Mt Fuji (3,800m) during the warm season. For those who think the top of the mountain is a deserted place: on the top of Mr Fuji you find vending machines and restaurants... so I'm just surprised 4G was not available until now..

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    1. Re:Surprised! by dywolf · · Score: 3, Funny

      that's better than the one for Everest at least then. the image that keeps coming to mind is:
      -"Belay on!"
      -"Hold on, I'm tweeting our status"

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      The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
    2. Re:Surprised! by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2

      Many people climb Mt Fuji (3,800m) during the warm season. For those who think the top of the mountain is a deserted place: on the top of Mr Fuji you find vending machines and restaurants... so I'm just surprised 4G was not available until now..

      I climbed Mt Fuji in the summer of 1991. There were was a restaurant then, but no vending machines. I bought and ate a bowl of hot noodles before descending. It is a nice mountain to climb, with great views. It was about a four hour ascent, with no technical climbing (just hiking). The descent is easy because you can walk down through areas of loose pumice and slide an extra half meter or so with each step. Dress warm, because even in July there was sleet and snow on the summit. If my memory is correct, the trailhead is about two hours by train and bus from Tokyo, so you could do it as a day trip.