Staff members of China Mobile test the signals of the 5G base station built at an altitude of 5,300 meters near the base camp of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on April 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
MOUNT QOMOLANGMA BASE CAMP, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The world's highest-altitude 5G base station started operation on Thursday, with its signal covering the summit of Mount Qomolangma.
Built at an altitude of 6,500 meters, the station is located at the advanced base camp of Mount Qomolangma, the world's highest peak, according to telecom giant China Mobile.
The station, along with another two that were previously built at altitudes of 5,300 meters and 5,800 meters respectively, realizes the full coverage of 5G signal of Mount Qomolangma on the north ridge as well as the summit.
Zhou Min, general manager of Tibet branch of China Mobile, said the facility will ensure telecommunication for the activities of mountain climbing, scientific research, environmental monitoring and high-definition livestreaming.
The building of 5G infrastructure is in tandem with the measuring of the height of the peak, which officially started on Thursday.
The base station at 5,300 meters is expected to serve the base camp area. Once 5G is commercially available, climbers, tourists and local residents will be able to use the service in the base camp area. The base stations at 5,800 meters and 6,500 meters above sea level are temporary base stations to provide signal coverage over the climbing route to the summit. The base stations are expected to be dismantled after the completion of the elevation survey in 2020.
Located at the China-Nepal border, Mount Qomolangma has an altitude of more than 8,840 meters, with its north part located in Xigaze prefecture of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Local people transport optical cables to the advanced base camp of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on April 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Photo taken on April 28, 2020 shows solar panels used to supply power for the 5G base station built at an altitude of 5,300 meters near the base camp of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Staff members of China Mobile test the signals of the 5G base station built at an altitude of 5,300 meters near the base camp of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on April 15, 2020. (Xinhua/Sun Fei)
Photo taken on April 19, 2020 shows the building site of a 5G base station near the advanced base camp of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (China Mobile/Handout via Xinhua)
Staff members of China Mobile build a 5G base station near the advanced base camp of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on April 19, 2020. (China Mobile/Handout via Xinhua)
Staff members of China Mobile build a 5G base station near the advanced base camp of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region on April 19, 2020. (China Mobile/Handout via Xinhua)
Photo taken on April 28, 2020 shows solar panels used to supply power for the 5G base station built at an altitude of 5,300 meters near the base camp of Mount Qomolangma in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)■
