If you have visited Ny-Ålesund in recent years, then you have experienced something of a technical-cultural paradox: a settlement that, in many ways, is very modern and technically advanced, but you couldn’t use your mobile phone because there was no mobile network.
Was. That is a matter of the past now.
Ny-Ålesund: a mast, but no antenna.
Things have changed. Now you can use your mobile phone there as elsewhere.
It has always been said that the electromagnetic field that comes with mobile network disturbs certain highly sensitive scientific technology. But that does actually not apply for the frequencies of mobile network. It is indeed the case, however, for other frequencies, including those in the range of wifi/WLAN and Bluetooth. These remain forbidden in Ny-Ålesund.
Culturally, this is a major step for the small settlement which has been mobile-phone-free until the early winter of 2023. It is considered to keep social places such as the messroom mobile phone free.
But for everyday life, it is safe to assume that most people will welcome it, both those who live and work there as well as tourists. Also scientific work will benefit from easier communications, for example as some measuring devices can now send their data rather than checking them regularly in the field. Field safety will obviously also benefit.
And as mentioned above: Wifi/WLAN and bluetoth will remain forbidden.
This and other publishing products of the Spitsbergen publishing house in the Spitsbergen-Shop.
Norwegens arktischer Norden (1): Spitzbergen
Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German. [shop url="https://shop.spitzbergen.de/en/polar-books/70-norwegens-arktischer-norden-1-aerial-arctic-9783937903262.html"] ← Back
Lofoten, Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen from the air - Photobook: Norway's arctic islands. The text in this book is German, but there is very little text, so I am sure that you will enjoy it regardless which languages you read (or not).
The companion book for the Svalbardhytter poster. The poster visualises the diversity of Spitsbergen‘s huts and their stories in a range of Arctic landscapes. The book tells the stories of the huts in three languages.
Comprehensive guidebook about Spitsbergen. Background (wildlife, plants, geology, history etc.), practical information including travelling seasons, how to travel, description of settlements, routes and regions.
Join an exciting journey with dog, skis and tent through the wintery wastes of East Greenland! We were five guys and a dog when we started in Ittoqqortoormiit, the northernmost one of two settlements on Greenland’s east coast.
12 postcards which come in a beautifully designed tray. Beautiful images from South Georgia across Antarctica from the Antarctic Peninsula to the Ross Sea and up to Macquarie Island and Campbell Island.