By Chandra Pandak, Taplejung, Sept. 30: Gone are days when locals of Taplejung would climb onto a hillock or treetop to get network in their mobile set. However, a similar situation still persists. Instead of mobile network, they now climb nearby higher areas to get access to internet network. In place of mobile set, they now carry laptop while climbing onto the hillock in search of internet

With the expansion of mobile network tower in the district, people even in rural villages have been able to use mobile or telephone services. However, the people are still unable to enjoy internet services with ease. They have to climb onto nearby hills to get internet network.

Even mobile network services are not to found everywhere easily. Phaktanglung Rural Municipality in the district lies in the remote area and Ghunsa area of Lelep in ward no. 6 and Olangchungola of ward no. 7 lack easy availability of mobile network services.

Lingkhim of Phaktanglung Rural Municipality-3 which borders with Phungling Municipality, the seat of district headquarters, lacks access to internet network. And the locals here climb onto hills to have video talks with their relatives staying out of the village or country.

The locals complain that their mobile data for internet does not work and they need to climb to higher places for it.

Bhim Bahadur Limbu, a local of Lingkhim, said they had to climb to a hill that overlooks Phungling bazaar, the district headquarters, for internet network and use social media platforms to communicate with relatives and friends.

Devraj Limbu, another local of Lingkhim, said a hill, Mane Danda, that lies in the middle of the village and overlooks Phungling bazaar has been renamed as 4G hill because Lingkhim locals reach there for internet network. The 4G hills gets crowded at times as youths get to this place for internet.

Similarly, locals in Sanwa and Papung of Mikwakhola RM, Sikaicha, Tellok, Pedang, Mamankhe, Yamfudin, Khebang of Ssirijangha RM, Surumkhim, Mehele of Sirinwa RM, Tiringe, Dumrise of Pathibhara RM have to get to hilltop to get access to internet. Although wireless internet services are available in government offices, banks and others in the office location of all eight rural municipalities of the district, all complain that internet services are not effective.