Offgrid and offline - How to build your own solar-powered autonomous network where there is no infrastructure.

Eric Nitschke, Mike Jensen, Elektra Wagenrad

Info
In this intervention, participants will collectively build and deploy a low-power, offline-first, wireless mesh network that will be available for use by all re:publica attendees.

Participants will have a space to discuss recent developments in open and decentralized tools which can empower underconnected communities to connect themselves.
Makerspace
Workshop
English
Hands On

At least 2.7 billion people out of around 8 billion globally are offline - and many more people already connected do not have meaningful access.

At the same time, we are witnessing exciting new developments in the areas of open hardware design, decentralized and localized manufacturing,  offline-first & self-hosted services for local content production, and open educational resources and technologies for localized capacity building.  

This hands-on session will enable participants to investigate each of these developments through the co-construction of an open source solar-powered wireless mesh network that runs local content and services.  Facilitators will provide all necessary hardware, deconstructed and organized prior to the workshop. Participants will be guided through the assembly process of the network, which will be fully operational at the end of the activity.  Each of the network components and tech developments will be described during the assembly and testing of the network.

Introduction (20 minutes)

Discussion about:

  • current state of connectivity and needs for offline/distributed networks (Mike)
  • open hardware, open firmware  - why is this needed and how is it different to closed hardware, how it works (Elektra)
  • open software/services, and open education - what are locally-hosted offline-first content & services, and open educational technologies (Eric)
  • open passive infrastructure - the use and adaptation of locally sourced materials for the construction of connectivity infrastructure (Sarbani - Remote)
    Discussion about:
  • current state of connectivity and needs for offline/distributed networks (Mike)
  • open hardware, open firmware  - why is this needed and how is it different to closed hardware, how it works (Elektra)
  • open software/services, and open education - what are locally-hosted offline-first content & services, and open educational technologies (Eric)
  • open passive infrastructure - the use and adaptation of locally sourced materials for the construction of connectivity infrastructure (Sarbani - Remote)