KATHMANDU: High on the world’s tallest mountain, the problem isn’t just thin air. It’s the signal.

Back in December 2025, Nepal’s then communication minister, Jagdish Kharel under the Sushila Karki-led government, made a bold promise: full telecom coverage for the Everest region. He ordered Nepal Telecom (NTC) and Ncell to get moving, fast.

Fast-forward to spring climbing season. The base camp is buzzing with trekkers and climbers. But their phones? Mostly useless.

“Neither data of NTC nor Ncell works reliably here,” says Timothy Anderson, a trekker who arrived at Everest Base Camp just last week. His frustration echoes that of countless visitors from past seasons. Kharel’s promise has evaporated like morning mist off the treacherous Khumbu Icefall.

So how do people get online? Many lodges along the trail offer Wi‑Fi through “Everest Link” or “Air Link.” But it’s not free – travelers must buy prepaid cards of high prices for poor quality data. And local hoteliers aren’t shy about why the big mobile networks are absent.

“NTC and Ncell are unwelcome here,” claims Pasang Sherpa, who runs a lodge in Lobuche. “They tried to create a syndicate by bribing telecom officials.” Whether true or not, the result is the same: a local monopoly that leaves everyone paying more for less.

But here’s where the story takes a sharp turn. The poor service isn’t just annoying – it’s pushing people to break the rules. More and more foreign climbers are arriving with their own Starlink devices, the satellite internet system from Elon Musk’s company. And they’re using them illegally on the mountain, from base camp all the way up to the high camps.

“Most foreign clients bring their own Starlink device and use it without permission,” admit expedition operators who watch the situation daily. Nepal is losing revenue. And illegal use is spreading. The country is loosing a lot.

Now, expedition and trekking operators are pleading with the government – specifically the Gen‑Z inspired, Balen Shah‑led government – to step in. Their demands are simple: expand NTC and NCell services immediately, and crack down on the local monopoly that makes legal communication so unreliable.

“Communication isn’t a luxury up here,” one operator says. “It’s a matter of safety.” With lives on the line and rules being broken, the mountain is waiting for a signal that actually works – the right way.