Mahabir Pun is an Internet Hall of Fame recipient, winner of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, and known for his extensive work in applying wireless technologies to develop remote areas of the Himalayas, also known as the Nepal Wireless Networking Project.
The Nepal Wireless Networking Project was established in 2002 to build a local communications network using wireless technology to connect people in Himalayan communities. Despite some early challenges, Mahabir was able to connect 13 mountain villages by 2006 to a Wi-Fi network and the Internet. Since then, he has expanded the network and services to over 175 remote villages in 15 districts of Nepal. Today, those villages are using the Internet for e-learning, e-healthcare, local e-commerce, community discussions, money transfers and weather monitoring.
Mahabir also led the initiative for the development of a National Innovation Centre, to foster research for the economic development of Nepal.
Mahabir has a Master’s Degree in Education Administration from the University of Nebraska and received an honorary degree as Doctor of Humane Letters in 2007 for his outstanding work in Nepal.