The hotspot, which Intel says is the first in the Arctic region, was installed at the Barneo ice camp, which is about 80 kilometers from the actual North Pole, the company said in a statement. The camp is a complex of tents north of the 89th parallel.
The camp is situated on an ice cap and is in operation only when ice conditions are favorable, typically in April, according to Intel. It is used to support scientific and rescue missions in the spring when ice conditions.
The hotspot uses Intel's Centrino equipment and the Iridium satellite phone system as backhaul. The company said in its statement that the installation shows that the equipment can be used in extreme circumstances. It said that those at the camp use the hotspot access for chores ranging from e-mail to getting real-time weather conditions and for taking care of matters at home, including, potentially, financial transactions.