ZTE deploys 3G stations at world's highest point

HONG KONG: ZTE Corp., has successfully deployed eight 3G stations at the Mt. Everest National Park, which includes the Mt. Everest base camp 5180 meters above sea level, to provide quality voice and 3G broadband services for local residents and mountaineers from all around the world preparing to climb the world’s highest mountain.

On the launch of all eight stations in the Mt. Everest project on October 19, Ncell CTO Aigars Benders congratulated the achievement via video, saying: “You are on the peak of the world! With the launch of the 3G station, visitors to the south side of Mt. Everest can share what they see, what they feel, and what they think during their trip to Mt. Everest with their friends and relatives at any time.” Ncell is the wholly-owned subsidiary of Europe’s multinational operator TeliaSonera and the second largest mobile operator in Nepal with 40% market share.

To withstand the high altitude and extremely harsh natural environment of the Himalayas, ZTE provided a tailor-made solution for the Mt. Everest project with a strong “green” environmentally conscious focus.

The micro base-station is based on the SDR platform, which has a low power-consumption, small footprint, and is easy to install. A one-piece ground tower and heat-insulating Diet shelter are used in the stations, which allow them to be installed quickly without the need for earthwork and foundation construction.

Solar panels were also incorporated in the design to ensure that the station has power supply throughout the year and be environmentally friendly. These features will allow the station to operate at optimal levels even with outdoor temperatures as low as minus 30 to 40 degrees Centigrade with minimal power usage.

“In order to ensure smooth communication for these hikers on their way to Mt. Everest, and to enable them to share their happiness at the most exciting moment of getting on top of the peak with their loved ones, Ncell again teamed up with ZTE to build a network covering the hiking route leading up to Mt. Everest, to create a legacy on the south side of Mt. Everest,” said Aigars Benders, CTO for Ncell.

“Our total turn-key solution can not only adapt to the limited resources in the field, but also dramatically reduce construction time, to launch the station more than one month ahead of traditional solution,” said Luo Pingfan, president, South Asia, ZTE.