In the Khumjung school, children are buzzing with excitement during their computer class. The reason for their enthusiasm? They are finally experiencing the Internet firsthand after years of merely reading about it in textbooks. This transformation is the result of a remarkable local initiative, in collaboration with the Internet Society, that has established the world’s highest community network.
The sound of a distant helicopter gradually grows louder before coming into view. It hovers momentarily over a helipad marked with a bright yellow “H,” lowering a cargo net as it touches down. A group of men and women quickly gather to unload the net’s contents. Among them, Dawa Tshering Sherpa shoulders a 60kg washing machine, securely fastened with ropes that pass through a padded band across his forehead. He sets off down the hill towards Khumjung.
The Khunde and Khumjung villages, located just a few kilometers from the renowned Everest Trail leading to the Everest Base Camp, have long remained hidden gems. Despite their proximity to this famous trekking route, most tourists prefer to stay in the larger town of Namche Bazaar. Tshering Sherpa, who owns a lodge in Khunde, believes that these two villages deserve greater recognition and hopes that a community network will not only attract more tourists but also lead to advancements in education, healthcare, and communication.
The inception of this pilot Internet network is attributed to the Nepal Internet Foundation, with crucial support from the Internet Society.
Connecting the Villages: In 2022, Bikram Shrestha from the Nepal Internet Foundation, based in Kathmandu, crossed paths with Chhepal Dorjee Sherpa, a local trekking guide and entrepreneur who hails from Khunde. Bikram brought his prior experience with community networks to the table, and together, they embarked on a mission to create “the highest community network in the world.” At that time, Khunde and Khumjung had limited mobile phone coverage, with approximately two dozen households paying 1,000 rupees ($7.55) per month for an unreliable ADSL connection. Their vision was clear: provide residents with fast and reliable Wi-Fi in their homes and businesses.
In July, they launched a pilot project that connected the Community Club in Khunde and the Edmund Hillary School in Khumjung. The signal was transmitted to the village through a wireless link from the Hotel Everest View, the nearest tourist spot where fiber connectivity was available. The harsh winter climate posed challenges, as Bikram recalls, “It is a very extreme climate in winter, so we couldn’t make it in one go. To reach Khunde and Khumjung itself is very difficult for us.”
Naveed Haq, the Internet Society’s Infrastructure and Connectivity Director for the Asia Pacific region, was part of the team that assisted in setting up the pilot network. They faced cancellations due to dangerous weather conditions, but when they eventually managed to connect the school, the excitement was palpable. Naveed recounts the moment when students were told they could start browsing the Internet, saying, “That excitement and that smile on their faces when they were looking at each other!”
The school’s well-equipped computer lab had previously been hindered by a slow and unreliable connection. With the new, faster connection, both students and teachers could access valuable resources online. Principal ND Rai hopes that improved Internet access will allow young community members to work remotely and that teachers can pursue professional development opportunities online.
Additional funding from organizations like Broadpeak, 48percent.org, and individual donors through the Internet Society enabled the deployment of a fiber network to reach every household in the village in May 2023. This significant effort involved digging a 2.3-kilometer trench from the Hotel Everest View to bring fiber to the villages, boosting bandwidth from 10Mbps to a maximum of 100Mbps. The completion date, May 29, held special significance as it coincided with Everest Day, celebrating the first summit.
New Opportunities: Leveraging the Internet for Education, Healthcare, and Tourism
Education: Economic opportunities in the villages have traditionally been limited to jobs as tourist guides, porters, subsistence farming, or relying on remittances from relatives abroad. Many young people leave the area for education and work opportunities, sometimes venturing as far as Australia, the United States, or Europe. Zigme Gombu Sherpa, a 25-year-old information technology graduate, represents this trend. Although he loves his mountainous home, he sees little choice but to leave in search of better opportunities. Improved connectivity offers hope that this pattern will change.
Healthcare: Dr. Mingma K. Sherpa, who tends to the local hospital serving around 9,000 people in Khunde, faces unique challenges. The hospital handles a wide range of medical services, from routine vaccinations to treating broken bones and childbirth. Patients needing advanced care must make a treacherous journey to the airport in Lukla, often on foot or horseback, to catch a flight to the hospital in Kathmandu. Critical patients rely on expensive helicopter transportation. Mingma, who was inspired to pursue medicine by volunteer doctors working at the hospital, stresses the importance of improved connectivity for better collaboration with colleagues when consultations are needed.
Tourism: Enhanced connectivity can also breathe new life into the local tourist economy, which plays a crucial role in the region. Khunde and Khumjung have not reaped the full benefits of tourism, despite their proximity to the Everest Trail. Plans are in motion to establish a homestay platform featuring guesthouses scattered throughout the villages. While there are many lodges along the main trail, they predominantly cater to Western preferences. The homestay concept aims to offer tourists an authentic experience of Sherpa culture, cuisine, and traditions while providing local residents with a sustainable source of income.
Chhepal Sherpa, a proponent of showcasing the Sherpa community’s hidden stories and history, emphasizes that they are just like everyone else. Their contribution to mountaineering often goes unnoticed, and he hopes to change that narrative.
In conclusion, the introduction of Internet access to Khunde and Khumjung is not just a technological milestone but also a transformative force that promises to uplift these remote villages in Nepal. It has the potential to unlock new educational, healthcare, and economic opportunities, ultimately connecting them more closely with the rest of the world.
