2008: Summer Olympic torch summit

Beginning in 2007, China paved a 130 km (81 mi) dirt road from Tingri County to Everest's Tibet base camp, at a reported cost of 150 million yuan (US$19.7 million), to accommodate growing numbers of climbers on the north side of the mountain. Upon completion, China routed the 2008 Olympic Torch Relay over this road and to the summit of Everest, via the North Col route, on the way to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.A China Telecom cellular tower near the Base Camp provides phone coverage all the way to the summit.