A new GSM station has been set up in the Þórsmörk nature reserve, which could help save lives.
Guðmundur Pálsson, a technician from Og Vodafone, told Vísir that, “Up until now mobile phone coverage has been very limited in the area, but with this change, the comfort and security of guests to the area can be increased.” Pálsson says they will be using the antenna that emergency services had been using exclusively.
“Getting the antenna up in the new place took quite an effort from emergency services and Vodafone technicians,” he added.
Þórsmörk, by no means a dangerous place to travel, is still a large swath of the Icelandic rural area. As such, sudden changes in weather that can and will occur can often leave people stranded, as has happened. Often times, travellers would theoretically need only call upon park employees for directions back to camp, or to let their friends know that they’re going to be out longer than expected and not to worry, but in some areas the only contact has been with emergency services. With the creation of this new coverage, non-emergency contact as well as better connections to emergency services can be expected.
(Photo: photoguide.cz)