5895 meters above sea level: The snow-capped peak of Kilimanjaro is a dream destination for many mountaineers.
The peak is the highest in Africa.
Tens of thousands of people climb it every year.
Anyone hoping to escape the fast-paced digital age at these altitudes will soon be disappointed.
Claudia Bröll
Political correspondent for Africa based in Cape Town.
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Fast internet will soon be available on the “roof of Africa”.
This week, the Tanzanian Minister for Telecommunications made his way to the Horombo Hut, 3,729 meters above sea level, with companions, to announce the launch of the state-owned telecommunications group's Internet service.
By October, climbers who make it to Kibo, the highest peak of the volcano, will also be able to surf the Internet, post on Instagram and send selfies.
improvement of the security situation
The Tanzanian government hopes that this will attract more international attention to one of the country's most important tourist attractions.
“More tourists are coming from abroad now.
Internet access makes it possible for them to make phone calls at the snow line,” said the minister.
In addition, the safety situation for mountaineers and mountain guides is improving.
An extension to other mountains and national parks is planned.
Africa lags behind other continents in Internet penetration.
According to the World Bank, just over a fifth of the population in Tanzania used the internet in 2020, most via mobile phones.
However, the government is pushing ahead with the expansion of the fiber optic network.
In the longer term, more than 90 percent of Tanzanians should be able to use the Internet.
However, as in many other African countries, the costs are very high.
That might dampen the excitement of communicating with the rest of the world from Africa's highest mountain and eagerly sending data.