A truly inspiring story. While to us, blasé Westerners (tongue-in-cheek), it seems that the world is collapsing, it's heart-warming to know of a place where positive change is happening thanks to technology. It does put things in perspective, I'd say.

" it seems that the world is collapsing"

The world has been collapsing the past 2000 years.

In what sense?

More details, including some description of the equipment used:

http://www.nepalwireless.net/index.php

On the same Nepalese village, here's a story from Oct. 2001 (before they had internet access):

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/1606580.stm

Actially, there are EDGE from Nemapli private carrier Mero Mobile in almost all medium-sized cities. There are no problem with internet access because of expansion of mobile carriers. In some places, like in Darjeeling area you can use GPRS with Indian towers from Nepali hills =)

And what is interesting, almost all GSM towers in rural areas of Nepal and India have a security guard with it, or it built on top of private house, usually owned by some bank.