Searching for internet signal at the 1500-meter-high "Heaven's Gate"

(Baonghean.vn) - Located at an altitude of nearly 1,500m, the Muong Long Sky Gate (Ky Son district, Nghe An province) is not only an ideal stop to admire the panoramic view of villages and mountains shrouded in mist, but also a true "rendezvous spot" for people from many villages. Because only here can you find...OhI have 3G signal and can browse the web.

The Muong Long Sky Gate is the only place where you can access the internet.

Traveling about 60 km from Muong Xen town (Ky Son district), crossing mountain passes and hills, we arrived at the Muong Long Sky Gate. The Sky Gate is located at an altitude of 1485 km, with the villages of Muong Long commune below in the valley.

In recent years, remote and mountainous communes in Ky Son district such as My Ly, Keng Du, Muong Ai, Muong Tip, Muong Long, Huoi Tu, etc., have received investment. Electricity, roads, schools, and health stations have been built. However, telecommunication coverage remains limited. Only the Muong Long "Gateway to Heaven" can receive a 3G signal.

Teachers stationed in remote villages have to climb to the Mường Lống mountain pass to contact their relatives or read the newspaper.

As society develops, people's needs increase, and most villagers know how to use smartphones or laptops. Morning, noon, afternoon, and evening, whenever they need to browse the web to read news, search Google, watch movies, play games, work, chat on Facebook or Zalo, etc., the villagers gather at the "Heaven's Gate." Each person sits in their own corner, oblivious to others, engrossed in their own pursuits. Just about 500 meters from the Heaven's Gate, the 3G signal disappears.

Smartphone use has become common in the mountainous border regions, but due to inadequate telecommunications infrastructure, people still have to travel quite a distance to access the internet and browse the web.

Teenagers from Muong Long also go to the "Heaven's Gate" to surf the web and play games.

Mr. Lau Song Do (54 years old), Head of Sa Lay village, Muong Long commune, said that browsing the web is now a daily occurrence at the "Heaven's Gate." However, to "catch a signal," one has to travel more than ten kilometers. Previously, a group of tourists from the lowlands, traveling along the roads and stopping in the villages, couldn't access the internet. But upon reaching Muong Long's Heaven's Gate, they received continuous network notifications. Since then, this highest point in Muong Long has attracted hundreds of people from the villages to browse the web whenever they have free time. The most frequent visitors are teachers, commune officials, and young people.

The Muong Long Sky Gate has become a 'meeting place' for people from many villages.

Each person finds their own 'private space'.

Nguyen Thanh Nhan, who works at the Institute of Ethnology, said: “Since people learned that the area around the Heaven's Gate has 3G internet access, they are more enthusiastic. Many want to learn about farming, livestock breeding, or how to prevent diseases and protect cattle from the cold, and they can do it well just by going online. Many people whose children or spouses work far away can go online to talk to and see pictures of their loved ones. Even people from far away, when they need internet for work, bring their computers to the Heaven's Gate to sit and work.”

To access documents or get their work done, the people in the area have no choice but to go up to the "Heaven's Gate" (a metaphorical gateway to heaven).

According to an official from Muong Long commune, the Muong Long Sky Gate is the highest point in the area, making it easy to receive telecommunication and 3G signals. Furthermore, a Viettel network receiving tower has been installed right at the Sky Gate, making internet coverage and access easy for the local people.

Wang Yun - Lan Tai