Vodafone Iceland last week celebrated the completion of its new GSM service in the Westfjords by placing phone calls on the world’s biggest mobile phone from the top of Gemlufjallsheidi Mountain.
“We wanted to find a really symbolic way to celebrate the building work we have been doing in the Westfjords region this year,” Hrannar Petersson, Vodafone’s Information Officer told BB.is. “We have now installed a much bigger GSM network in the Westfjords than there was at the beginning of the year. Around 30 new transmitters have been erected this year. The project is financed by us and the Communications Fund at the Ministry for Communications,” he continued.
Haraldur Juliusson, head of the Iceland Search and Rescue unit in Isafjordur placed the first call on the giant phone to the emergency services; to confirm that it is was possible to call out. Next the Minister for Communications received a call to officially inform him that this part of the Westfjords GSM project was indeed completed.
Vodafone has spent 2008 upgrading its entire national network, with emphasis on giving total coverage to the ring road and improved service in mountainous areas. And areas don’t come much more mountainous than the Westfjords!
During the mountaintop ceremony, Gáttaþefur, one of Iceland’s thirteen traditional santas stopped by to see what was going on. He was on his way to see children at the nursery school in Þingeyri, but was so interested in the giant phone that he was permitted to make a call.
It is not known who he phoned; but it could well have been his mountain-dwelling troll of a mother, Grýla.
The giant phone was then displayed for the public last weekend, where us normal non-santas were also given the chance to make a call.
ooooooooooommmmmmmmmmmmmmggggggggg worlds largest call
Yes, that’s a huge phone. I guess you can’t keep it in your pocket!