To harness the tourism potential of the area and to facilitate mountaineers and trekkers, Internet connectivity and phone coverage have been provided at K2 base camp.
What Happened: A 4G BaseTransceiver Station (BTS) has been installed at the K2 base camp area of Concordia, primarily to promote tourism in the area. The site has been named Ali Sadpara in memory of the late mountaineer who lost his life during the winter expedition of the world’s most treacherous peak earlier this year.
The site has been made functional by the Special Communication Organisation (SCO) to ensure communication facilities at the world’s second tallest peak K2 base camp. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan during his recent visit to Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Impact: The provision of unrestricted telecommunication services in the area will elevate the tourism potential of the region, and will prove to be of vital importance for mountaineers and trekking groups to stay connected with their families while on adventurous missions, and be able to promptly summon help and in emergency situations. It will also facilitate weather monitoring in the region.