The Everest trail has partial coverage up to Lobuche, but base camp has none. Charging is paid and expensive.
Signal
Namche and Dingboche have coverage. Lobuche is patchy.
Wi-Fi
Sold in lodges, with slow speeds.
Charging
Paid and costly. Bring a power bank.
Base camp
No signal. Guides carry radios.
Signal and Wi-Fi on the approach
Namche has the best coverage. Dingboche and Lobuche have patchy service, and Wi-Fi cards are sold in lodges. After Lobuche, expect no signal at base camp. Update family before you leave the village.
Power and batteries
Charging gets more expensive with altitude. Bring a 20,000 mAh power bank and spare headlamp batteries. Keep devices warm, and switch to airplane mode to save battery.
Emergency numbers
Share your operator's number and your guide's number with family. In an emergency, these are the fastest contacts. Keep a paper copy for yourself.
A day-by-day view of coverage
Namche Bazaar is the last place with dependable data, and the villages of Tengboche and Pangboche catch signal in patches. Dingboche is hit and miss, and Lobuche depends on the weather and the lodge you choose. Once you move to base camp the phone becomes a camera and a clock. Plan to send your last proper update from Dingboche, and to post the summit news only after you are back at a lodge.
If you need to be reachable
If your work or family needs you reachable, arrange a contact through your operator in Kathmandu. They keep daily radio or satellite contact with the guides and can pass urgent messages. Give them your schedule and the name of your guide so that nothing gets lost.
Preparation
Download maps. See the gear list.
Satellite and radio options
Ask your guide whether the team carries a satellite phone or radio. These are the reliable tools if a mobile network is unavailable.
Planning charges
Charge devices fully in Namche or Lobuche village when possible. Turn off data roaming to save battery.
Plan your messages
Send updates from Namche or Dingboche. Beyond that expect gaps.
Charging in Lobuche
Lodges in Lobuche charge for each device, and power is limited. A solar panel keeps a bank filled on sunny days.
