Comments on: How Phone-Powered Mesh Networks Could Help in Egypt http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/ Sun, 26 May 2013 02:45:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Who’s Filtering the Web in the Middle East?: Broadband News and Analysis « http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-598090 Mon, 21 Feb 2011 15:31:27 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-598090 [...] or at least an intranet over which people could communicate, appear more important. We’ve covered some of those efforts as well as the U.S.’s hypocrisy in drawing a line between web freedoms and the dissemination [...]

]]> By: Building the Technology Stack for Internet Freedom: Tech News and Analysis « http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-595190 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:14:01 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-595190 [...] Asterix and OpenBTS, with new projects for mesh networking known as The Serval Project, which Kevin covered earlier this month and Commotion, open source firmware to enable routers to create an open mesh network. Dan Meredith, [...]

]]> By: Qualcomm’s FlashLinq, Wi-Fi Direct and the New Connectivity: Tech News and Analysis « http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-588511 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:50:45 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-588511 [...] isn’t that new — Qualcomm showed it off back in June at its developer conference, but given the attention given lately for distributed networks thanks to Egyptian protests and the shut down of the country’s Internet infrastructure for a few days, it’s time [...]

]]> By: PJ http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-584907 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 11:07:17 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-584907 Other than the implementation on Android handsets this is old news. DARPA started research in this area 20 years ago and 10 years ago commercial companies were being launched to exploit it. The most successful was MeshNetworks but there are several others, Tropos, Strix and Aruba to name a few.
The IEEE got involved in 2004 to standardize mesh networking for 802.11 (WiFi) and the WiFi Direct initiative from the WiFi Alliance is an outcome of those efforts.
WiFi on an Android handset, or any other, has a range of about 100m. The only practical solution today is a good old FRS walkie-talkie, dirt cheap and a range over 2Km.

]]> By: Free At Last http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-584716 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 02:01:20 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-584716 Egypt is having some minor difficulties with access to Al Gore’s Information Superhighway (known to many as simply The Internet or just The Net). The really awesome thing is how Egypt is embracing Freedom and Democracy which is much more important than the net. I just hope and pray that one day we will get that Freedom here in America (aka United States)!

]]> By: Romana Challans http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-584711 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 01:46:57 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-584711 On behalf of the Serval Project, which is the one featured above, I would like to thank you for the coverage.

We believe passionately in communications as a human right – regardless of location, politics, or financial status.

We also aim to fill the void in communications infrastructure in times of emergency or disaster.

]]> By: Simon Dale Dale http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-584636 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 22:54:42 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-584636 I believe the Egyptian government did infact turn off the cellular networks for several hours in Cairo a few days ago so this is even more relevant than you think.

]]> By: Kevin C. Tofel http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-584615 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:47:24 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-584615 Super example, Stuart! Looks like the research project has many TBDs yet, but I’m intrigued – thanks for sharing it!

]]> By: Stuart http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-584583 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 20:44:39 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-584583 I was thinking of Nokia’s Instant Community app that uses low-powered ad-hoc wifi to allow for voice, message, pictures and video to be exchanged. I found some info about it here https://lausanne.nokiaresearch.com/nic/ and I think it will be a part of their new MeeGo device but it also works with Symbian.

]]> By: JAy. http://gigaom.com/2011/02/01/egypt-as-example-a-case-for-mesh-networks-on-phones/#comment-584521 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 18:16:17 +0000 http://gigaom.com/?p=292556#comment-584521 This is similar to the capability of Nextel phones to drop off the cellular network and form a direct network of phones. My brother-in-law uses this when hunting, as the cellular coverage is very limited where he hunts. But with everyone on Nextel, the direct network allows them to still talk.

Regarding data, it would work, except that at least one phone would still require a connection to the internet. In Egypt this weekend, that might still have been difficult.

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