The Wireless Community Network Movement

The Wireless Community Network Movement is all about empowering communities to take control of their own internet access. This movement has been gaining momentum globally.

The first wireless community network was set up in 1993 by a group of activists in the Philippines. They used a combination of wireless and satellite technology to provide internet access to rural areas.

The movement gained significant traction in the early 2000s, with the establishment of the first wireless community network in the United States. This network was set up in a low-income neighborhood in New York City.

The goal of the wireless community network movement is to provide equal access to the internet for all, regardless of geographical location or socio-economic status.

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Wireless community networks started as projects that evolved from amateur radio using packet radio, and from the free software community which substantially overlapped with the amateur radio community.

The Redbricks Intranet Collective (RIC) started in 1999 in Manchester, UK, to allow about 30 flats in the Bentley House Estate to share the subscription cost of one leased line from British Telecom (BT).

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Wi-Fi was quickly adopted by technology enthusiasts and hobbyists, because it was an open standard and consumer Wi-Fi hardware was comparatively cheap.

Early wireless community networks were made by turning wireless access points designed for short-range use in homes into multi-kilometre long-range Wi-Fi by building high-gain directional antennas.

Some early groups advocated home-built antennas, such as the cantenna and RONJA, an optical link that can be made from a smoke flue and LEDs.

The circuitry and instructions for such DIY networking antennas were released under the GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL).

Municipal wireless networks, funded by local governments, started being deployed from 2003 onward.

In 2000, guifi.net was founded in rural Catalonia, as commercial internet service providers did not build a broadband Internet infrastructure in the area.

guifi.net was conceived as a wireless mesh network, where households can become a node in the network by operating a radio transmitter.

In 2001, BCWireless was founded in British Columbia, Canada, to help communities set up local Wi-Fi networks.

BCWireless hobbyists experimented with IEEE 802.11b wireless networks and antennas to extend the range and power of signal, allow bandwidth sharing among local group members and establish wireless mesh networks.

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The Lac Seul First Nation communities set up their Wi-Fi network and constituted the non-profit K-Net to manage a wireless network based on IEEE 802.11g.

The Detroit Community Technology Project (DCTP) was initiated in 2014 to train digital stewards in the skills necessary to build their own network infrastructure.

The project was formed by the Allied Media Project (AMP) and the Open Technology Institute (OTI) to address the exceptionally bad access to the Internet in Detroit.

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There are at least three technical approaches to building a wireless community network: Cluster, Wireless Mesh Network, and Device-as-Infrastructure. These approaches have been implemented by various groups to provide internet access to communities.

A Cluster approach involves advocacy groups encouraging the sharing of unmetered internet bandwidth via Wi-Fi, and may also provide equipment, DNS services, and index nodes. This can be a simple and effective way to get started with a wireless community network.

A Wireless Mesh Network, on the other hand, involves technology groups coordinating the building of a mesh network to provide Wi-Fi access to the internet. This approach requires more technical expertise, but can provide a robust and reliable network.

The Device-as-Infrastructure approach allows Wi-Fi enabled devices to join a wireless community network by establishing a peer-to-peer network, even when not connected to the wide area network. This was made possible by the release of the Commotion Wireless mesh network firmware in 2013.

The NodeDB software, launched by the Sidney Wireless community project in 2003, facilitates the work of community networks by mapping the nodes participating in a wireless mesh network. This software generates a list of adjacent nodes, making it easier for community members to find and connect with each other.

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There are at least three technical approaches to building a wireless community network. These approaches include advocacy groups that encourage sharing of unmetered internet bandwidth via Wi-Fi, technology groups that coordinate building a mesh network, and device-as-infrastructure models.

The cluster approach involves advocacy groups that index nodes, suggest uniform SSID, supply equipment, DNS services, and more. This approach is all about making it easy for people to share internet access.

A wireless mesh network is a type of network that provides Wi-Fi access to the internet. This approach is coordinated by technology groups that work together to build a mesh network that covers a wide area.

The device-as-infrastructure approach is a bit different. It uses Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones and computers to join a wireless community network by establishing a peer-to-peer network. This approach was made possible by the Open Technology Institute's Commotion Wireless mesh network firmware, released in 2013.

This approach is particularly useful in areas where traditional infrastructure is not available. By using devices as infrastructure, communities can create their own networks and access the internet.

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The NodeDB software was launched in 2003 by the Sidney Wireless community project to facilitate community networks by mapping participating nodes.

This software generated a list of adjacent nodes, making it easier for community members to connect with each other.

The NodeDB software required node registration, which included leaving a note on the hardware, antenna reach, and firmware in operation, allowing community members to find each other.

In 2004, the OpenWrt firmware was released as an open-source alternative to proprietary firmware, providing a flexible and customizable solution for wireless devices.

OpenWrt was named in honor of the WRT54G and could be used on hundreds of types of wireless devices and Wi-Fi routers.

The sudo-wrt firmware, used by the People's Open Network, is a custom firmware that leverages babeld for its underlying routing protocol.

This custom firmware is unique to the People's Open Network and allows for efficient routing within the community network.

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Wireless community networks have been around since the early 2000s, with Spain's Guifi.net being a notable example, boasting an impressive 39,000 connections.

These networks are built collaboratively by communities, NGOs, and cooperatives, offering a robust alternative to conventional wireless networks.

Their decentralized nature makes them resilient to outages and allows them to navigate adversities like political censorship and natural disasters.

Mesh networks, a type of community network, are particularly revolutionary due to their peer-to-peer ethos, ensuring unyielding connectivity even in challenging situations.

Their adaptable nature and democratized access have accelerated their adoption, making them a beacon of decentralization in the world of internet connectivity.

Organizationally, a wireless community network requires a high level of community participation and commitment to be viable. This means that mesh networks need a critical mass of hobbyists or a set of affordable commercial technical solutions to maintain operations.

Mesh networks currently require uniform equipment, which can sometimes be a barrier to entry. However, users can often convert a weak mesh signal to a strong one by obtaining and operating a repeater node, thus extending the network.

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Volunteer organizations focusing on rapidly advancing technology can sometimes experience schisms and mergers, but this can also lead to innovative approaches to providing Wi-Fi services. The Wi-Fi service provided by such groups is usually free and without the stigma of piggybacking.

Wireless community projects have contributed to the emergence of alternative business models in the consumer Wi-Fi market, such as the Fon model, where customers share their unused bandwidth with others.

Organization is key to the success of a wireless community network.

A high level of community participation and commitment is required to maintain mesh networks, which currently demand uniform equipment.

Volunteer organizations focusing on rapidly advancing technology sometimes experience schisms and mergers.

The Wi-Fi service provided by these groups is usually free and stigma-free, an alternative to traditional piggybacking.

Some projects accept donations to support their operations, such as Sudo Mesh on Patreon.

In the case of the People's Open Network, they have a unique partnership with Sudo Mesh for their software.

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The routers on the People's Open Network run a custom firmware called sudo-wrt, which uses babeld for its underlying routing protocol.

Here are some examples of organizations that support wireless community networks:

Inter-networking of networks is also an important aspect of community network organization, as seen in Phase 5 of a project that connected three separate networks to share local content.

Wireless community projects have made volunteer bandwidth-sharing technically feasible, contributing to the emergence of alternative business models in the consumer Wi-Fi market.

Fon, a commercial Wi-Fi provider established in 2006 in Spain, equipped customers with a Linksys Wi-Fi access point that runs a modified OpenWrt firmware, allowing them to share Wi-Fi access among each other.

Fon customers who made their entire unused bandwidth available for resale entered a 50% revenue-sharing agreement with the company, broadening public Wi-Fi provisioning.

In 2009, British Telecom allowed its own home customers to sell unused bandwidth to BT and Fon roamers, further validating this business model.

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Local authorities have started contracting with wireless community networks to provide municipal wireless networks or stable Wi-Fi access in defined urban areas, such as parks.

The non-profit community network ZAP Sherbrooke has partnered with public and private entities to provide Wi-Fi access, receiving financial support from the University of Sherbrooke and Bishop's University to extend its wireless mesh throughout the city of Sherbrooke, Canada.

Regulation plays a significant role in the world of wireless internet access. In South Africa, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) regulates the selling of internet access, requiring WISP's to apply for a VANS or ECNS/ECS license before reselling internet access over a wireless link.

Some countries have specific regulations for community networks, wireless internet service providers, and wireless network organizations. The Internet Society's publication "Community Networks in Latin America: Challenges, Regulations and Solutions" provides a summary of regulations in Latin American countries, the United States, and Canada.

Wireless community networks, wireless internet service providers, and wireless network organizations are all subject to varying levels of regulation.

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In Nepal, the Nepal Wireless Networking Project traveled to devastated areas after the Gorkha Earthquake to survey rural towns and collect data.

The team noted down the GPS coordinates of damaged schools, mobile towers, and other infrastructure, which was used to draft a preliminary implementation plan for wireless network rollout.

The sites chosen were remote villages where the population derives much of their income from subsistence farming.

Some villages draw electricity from community-built micro-hydrogenerators, while others have basic solar power systems.

Increased mobile network coverage has made 2G and 3G Internet service available to urban and peri-urban areas, but the chosen villages had not had access to broadband Internet prior to the W4C program.

The team consulted with the management committees of local villages, health centres, and schools to ensure the implementation plan met their needs.

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The Detroit Community Technology Project in Detroit, MI, is a great example of a wireless community network. It was formed in 2014 to train digital stewards in building their own network infrastructure, with a network size of over 200 households by 2019.

The project uses Commotion firmware and low-cost omni-directional APs, with a relay layer composed of directional antennas. The Digital Stewards installed all the network infrastructure, but the EII played a critical role in coordinating the installs.

The project has a strong commitment to digital justice principles, including inclusion and advocacy. They've published 'zines, created documentation, and generally pushed for this approach consistently.

Here are some key features of the Detroit Community Technology Project:

In other parts of the world, similar projects have been implemented. For example, the Wireless for Communities (W4C) program in India has been working on wireless community networks since 2010.

In 2016-2017, the Smart Village Program was implemented in two locations: Tham in Jharkhand and Narayanpet in Telangana. The program established a Digital Smart Village Resource Centre in each location with a broadband connection, managed by the local community.

The centres were equipped with broadband connection, enhancing the capacity of local government operations and developing the entrepreneurial skills of the local community through the use of ICTs. This allowed for the connection of schools, local government offices, and self-help groups to broadband.

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In Phase 5, three separate community networks were connected to each other through an intranet to share local content.

This was achieved by targeting locations in Baran, Rajasthan, and Guna and Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh.

The project leveraged backhaul Internet connectivity from one location to connect the others.

By doing so, the project built the technical capacity of the local community in wireless networking.

The communities were able to share local content with each other, expanding their reach and connectivity.

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The Red Hook Wifi project in Brooklyn is a great example of community-driven internet access. It's a network that grew out of a tight-knit community that was cut off from the rest of the city by a highway.

The network runs on Commotion firmware and has a unique approach to resilient installations, with nodes powered by solar panels. This approach has been replicated elsewhere.

RISE NYC covers the physical costs of the network, while the Red Hook Initiative pays for all the labor. This partnership has allowed the network to thrive.

The Red Hook Wifi network has also provided opportunities for local youth to learn about working in the technology industry through a paid fellowship program. This program is open to people aged 19-24.

The network has been used to develop useful applications, such as Garden Mesh, a highly specialized kind of mesh network that gathers sensor data from plants.

The Personal Telco Project is an initiative that's been providing strong internet access to the city of Portland, Oregon since 2000. This project consists of almost 100 hot-spots throughout the city.

The Personal Telco Project is not a mesh network, but rather a hot-spot sharing initiative. This approach has allowed them to provide a robust internet connection to a large number of people.

Their network has been established for nearly two decades, with a presence in the city that's hard to ignore. The project's longevity is a testament to its effectiveness and the dedication of its members.

One of the key features of the Personal Telco Project is its reliance on low-cost hardware and open-source software. This approach has allowed them to keep costs down and provide a high-quality service to their users.

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Partnerships play a vital role in the success of wireless community networks. The W4C in India has partnerships with several organizations, including Ericsson, Ford Foundation, Microsoft, and Tata Trusts.

These partnerships help provide funding, resources, and expertise to support the development and growth of wireless community networks. The Government of India's Ministry of Communication and Information Technology is also a partner, contributing to the project's infrastructure and connectivity.

In addition to these partnerships, the People's Open Network in Oakland has a unique partnership with Sudo Mesh, which provides software development support. This collaboration allows the People's Open Network to run a custom firmware, sudo-wrt, which uses babeld for its underlying routing protocol.

The People's Open Network also receives support from Sudo Room, Omni Commons, and the Internet Archive, which provide meeting space, free bandwidth, and other resources.

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In 2000, guifi.net was founded as a wireless mesh network in rural Catalonia, where households can become nodes by operating a radio transmitter.

The network relies on volunteers being connected to the Internet and sharing access with others. Guifi.net had 23,000 nodes by 2017 and was described as the biggest mesh network in the world.

BCWireless was founded in 2001 to help communities in British Columbia, Canada, set up local Wi-Fi networks.

These hobbyists experimented with IEEE 802.11b wireless networks and antennas to extend the range and power of signal, allowing bandwidth sharing among local group members and establishing wireless mesh networks.

The Lac Seul First Nation communities set up their Wi-Fi network and constituted the non-profit K-Net to manage a wireless network based on IEEE 802.11g.

In Detroit, the Allied Media Project partnered with the Open Technology Institute in 2014 to form the Detroit Community Technology Project (DCTP).

The DCTP trained digital stewards in the skills necessary to build their own network infrastructure.

The network runs on Commotion firmware and uses low-cost omni-directional APs, with a relay layer composed of directional antennas.

The Digital Stewards installed all of the network infrastructure, with the Equitable Internet Initiative playing a critical role in coordinating the installs.

The Next Gen Apps program educates middle school and high school students about web development, so they can contribute apps to the network.

This program has graduated students who have created apps to monitor local air pollution levels, highlight black owned businesses, and more.

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Mesh networks are a type of wireless solution that can be used for last mile delivery, making it easier to connect communities with the internet. They work by creating a network of interconnected nodes that act as access points, allowing devices to connect to the internet through multiple paths.

This approach eliminates the need for a single point of failure, making it a more reliable option for communities that require consistent internet connectivity. By using mesh networks, communities can ensure that everyone has access to the internet, even in areas with limited infrastructure.

Mesh networks can be deployed rapidly, taking a fraction of the time it would take to lay down cables, and can be expanded as the community grows, making it a cost-efficient solution for communities that are cost-sensitive.

Pitt Mesh is a great example of a mesh network in action. It's located in Pittsburg, PA.

This network was started by Meta Mesh in 2013, showing that mesh networks can be established and maintained over time.

Pitt Mesh operates piNet, a network of failure-resistant raspberry pis that host local services like a community hub.

Their network consists of about 65 nodes, giving you an idea of the scale and potential of mesh networks.

Mesh networks are a type of wireless solution that can be a game-changer for communities struggling with last mile delivery challenges.

By using a mesh network, communities can create a web of interconnected nodes that allow internet connectivity to be shared and amplified, making it easier to reach every home and device.

This approach eliminates the need for extensive cabling, which can be a logistical nightmare and a significant financial burden.

The wireless revolution has made mesh networks a viable alternative to traditional cabled solutions, allowing communities to establish a primary cable connection to a central location and then disseminate internet connectivity wirelessly.

Mesh networks offer unparalleled flexibility, as communities can add or remove nodes as needed without overhauling the existing infrastructure.

By leveraging the advantages of mesh networks, communities can achieve cost efficiency, rapid deployment, and increased connectivity, making it an optimal choice for communities lacking infrastructure.

The W4C program in India is comprised of six phases, but what's truly remarkable is the impact it has on the community. Beyond the technical marvel lies a more profound narrative.

Mesh networks are not just about connecting devices, they're about fostering a renewed sense of community and shared ambition. The solar-powered mesh access points, distributed across the community, provide income to their hosts, symbolizing sustainability and resilience against frequent power outages.

Community ownership is a key aspect of mesh networks, empowering residents to maintain the network themselves. This offers them internet access and crafts a narrative of self-sufficiency and local empowerment.