What happens if the internet or the mobile network goes down? Recent power cuts, such as those in Spain and Portugal, and geopolitical tensions show that our digital communications infrastructure cannot be taken for granted. With this question in mind, Waag Futurelab, together with the municipality of Amsterdam and a group of residents from the Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood, investigated how a decentralised radio network could contribute to a resilient communications infrastructure. We explored not only the technical possibilities of mesh networks, but also how such a network could play a role in emergency communications at a local level. After all, technology does not make a community more resilient, but the people who use the technology. In this article, we share the three key insights from the NodeNet pilot.
What is a mesh network?
A mesh network is a decentralised network: it consists of various devices (nodes) that communicate directly with one another without relying on the internet or a central provider. Therefore users are co-owners of the network. Messages 'hop' from one device to another until they reach their destination. Communication also remains possible even if one of the devices fails. Furthermore, the technology is often relatively inexpensive, simple and open. Various providers can be found online. In NodeNet, Waag used MeshCore’s radio technology. This firmware is managed by a small group of people, but the community has a major influence on the development of the network.
Technology is important, but trust is even more so
The range of nodes depends on distance and on obstacles such as tall buildings, as these can block signals. This means that connectivity in urban environments is not always reliable. We soon realised that not all messages were always received properly. In some cases, it helped to hold the node out of the window or to walk a short distance.
Halfway through the research, we switched to different radio settings for the NodeNet network. We made the switch because mesh users across the Netherlands were doing the same, and we hoped this would improve connectivity. The switch to a different ‘spreading factor’ meant that messages could be sent more quickly, but the range in terms of distance would decrease (read more). Think of it like speaking: if you speak faster, you’ll soon become harder to understand.
The residents certainly recognised the potential of mesh networks. At the same time, reliability proved to be the most important prerequisite for long-term use. When messages do not always get through, it becomes difficult to trust the system. As one participant put it: “Sometimes it feels a bit like a lottery.” Another participant pointed out that the network only feels truly usable once it has been thoroughly tested and has sufficient backups. Before the residents will embrace the network as a serious means of communication in times of emergency, its reliability must be improved.
Using the network even when there’s no emergency
Fortunately, no real emergency arose during the pilot. However, one important question was: how do you maintain the network when emergency communications are not required? After all, there is a risk that the mesh device might end up unused in a drawer somewhere, and people would no longer know what to do with it in an emergency. To ensure the network is ready in the event of an emergency, it must be used regularly. That is why we also investigated how the network could play a role in the daily lives of local residents.
Residents indicated that a network becomes more appealing when it also offers value for day-to-day communication: sharing neighbourhood news, practical information or requests for help. It is precisely this everyday use that helps residents become familiar with the technology, so that they still know how to use the device in the event of an emergency. To keep the network active, Waag sent a question to the group chat every week.
Waag organised various meetings where we identified scenarios for using mesh networks beyond emergency communications. This gave us an insight into other applications for mesh networks, such as their use at festivals, during demonstrations, or by people living on the streets or in shelters.
Using technology should be fun! Therefore Waag developed two games: ‘Cards Against Big Tech’ and ‘NodeNet in the City’, in which participants are given tasks. They have to solve these using the mesh network. This allows players to learn about the technology in an accessible and playful way.
A mesh network connects not just devices, it connects people
Perhaps the most important finding of the pilot is that participants saw NodeNet not only as a technical experiment, but also as a means of strengthening local cohesion and social resilience. At the same time, it became clear that a well-functioning neighbourhood network requires clear agreements.
A local mesh network does not simply sustain itself. A sustainable network requires different roles, including within the network itself. Public organisations can play a facilitating role and lend legitimacy to the network. For example, they ensure the continuity and support of the network, whilst an active group of residents keeps the network alive at a local level.
It is not just the technology that is important here, but also adequate support in the form of training, clear governance and a community that feels a sense of ownership of the network. It is precisely this combination that determines whether a mesh network can develop into a lasting component of a resilient emergency communications infrastructure.
Continued
We now know that mesh networks are much more than just a technical solution for communication in times of emergency. They provide an opportunity to reflect on digital autonomy and decentralised infrastructure. We have written a beginner’s guide to mesh in which we explain some of the applications for mesh networks. The results of the pilot are also shared on the Meshwiki.
In the coming period, we will build on the lessons learnt from this pilot. The focus will not only be on the further development of the technology, but also on how residents, civil society organisations and public authorities can work together to create an open, robust and local communications network for the future.
Would you like to collaborate with Waag on further developments of mesh? Please contact Ola at Ola [at] waag [dot] org.
