Tour Operators in Tanzania and some tour leaders worldwide have expressed their joy as hikers are now able to communicate with the rest of the world on top of Mount Kilimanjaro, many salutes to the Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) for bringing the world to the iconic mountain, which attracts thousands of tourists every year.
On December 13, this year the Tanzanian government
officially launched high-speed internet services at Mt Kilimanjaro's Uhuru
Peak, which is the rooftop of Africa.
The Minister for Information, Communication and Information
Technology, Mr Nape Nnauye launched the internet service at the 5,895 metres
high peak.
The connection at 3,720 metres above sea level and others to
follow are set to increase the visibility of the 'Roof of Africa' to the world.
The internet services on Mt Kilimanjaro were launched for the first time in
August this year in the Horombo area, 3,720 metres above sea level.
According to the Minister, TTCL Managed to complete the
installation of high-speed internet facilities at Mandara 2720 metres, Horombo
3720 metres and Kibo 4720 metres stations.
But, this time the services have been installed on the roof
of Africa with the slogan 'Data Kileleni' which aims to further promote tourism
at and around Mount Kilimanjaro.
Mt Kilimanjaro is one of the leading tourist destinations in
Tanzania, attracting thousands of mountain climbers from abroad and within the
country every year.
Recently while inaugurating the internet services at Marangu
gate while en route to the peak, Mr Nnauye said the benefits of installing the
internet services have started to be realised, as it has simplified work, ease
tourists' communication and increased internet users at the park. He commended
Tanzania Telecommunications Corporation (TTCL) for bringing the world to the
iconic mountain, which attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Speaking during the launching of the special project, the
TTCL Director General Eng Peter Ulanga explained that the project will be
extended to other major tourist sites.
"This is also part of the drive to the digital economy.
In the long run, other remote tourism sites will have such access," he
said.
Commenting on the installation of the internet on Mt.
Kilimanjaro, the Tanzania Goodwill Ambassador for Tourism in the United States
of America (USA), Macon Dunnagan who climbed the 'Roof of Africa' 47 times
explained that the installation of the internet on the mountain will help to
promote our country's tourism destinations worldwide.
"Apart from promoting the majesty of Mount Kilimanjaro,
the installation of the internet will also increase the number of tourists who
will see 'live' the beauty of the mountain through various social media,"
the TTB's goodwill envoy for tourism in the US said.
For her part, the founder and Managing Director of one of
the leading tourism companies, ZARA Tanzania Adventures (ZARA Tours), Zainab
Ansell explained that she was happy with the TTCL Corporation special project
as in the past years some of the tourists thought that Mount Kilimanjaro is in
Kenya as they were receiving SMS that welcomes them to Kenya while in the
mountain's Rongai route in Tanzania, but they are now enjoying internet
services from the mountain's buffer zone to Uhuru peak.
"By connecting Uhuru peak to the internet, our
customers are now able to communicate with the rest of the world on top of
Mount Kilimanjaro, a situation that will promote our tourism destinations live
Worldwide," she explained cheerfully.
Mr Faustine Chombo, one of the well-experienced professional
mountain guides explained that, apart from promoting tourism, the installation
of the internet on mount Kilimanjaro will also help them in rescue matters as
now communication is very 'easy' compared with the past years.
"Apart from selling our mountain to our clients, we are
now able to communicate easily with our rescue teams in case of any
emergency," he explained.
The government of the United Republic of Tanzania has
finally installed internet services on the top of Mount Kilimanjaro as the
country marked its 61st Independence Anniversary commemorated every year on
December, 9 with some special series of activities.
Finally, the internet will be accessed via Wi-Fi when the
Tourists visited Mandara, Horombo, Kibo, Gilman's, Stella and Uhuru Peak.
Furthermore, Minister Nnauye said that Tanzania has set a new record in Africa
by fixing internet services at 5,895 meters highest peak. He said the benefits
of installing the internet services he nation and using digital
technologies," said Eng Ulanga.
"I am very confident that where we are, we can tell
Tanzania and the world that the TTCL is capable of changing the entire face of
the communication sector in our country," he said.
On his part, the Director of Information Services and Chief
Government Spokesperson, Mr Gerson Msigwa said the ministry's goals are to
promote the use of information technology where the government is implementing
a strategy to ensure 80 per cent of citizens are digitally connected by 2025.
"The digital revolution that occurred today has
resulted from the strategic communication infrastructure, the national
communication backbone that led the speed and quality of communication,
including the Internet, where its needs have increased."
0 comments:
Post a Comment