The combination of open source technology and legacy technology makes it possible to setup networks that are affordable and offer quality that is good enough for the needs of users who otherwise might have nothing.
HestiaPi is an evolving project that began with a focus on a thermostat, but aspires to play a larger role in the growing smart home ecosystem.
One of the most important insights or lessons is the necessity of fibre optic connectivity rather than wireless. While this remains true in any community, it is particularly essential in rural and remote communities that are already suffering from expensive, slow, and unreliable access.
Althea combines open source software, accessible hardware, cryptocurrency, and blockchain technology towards achieving a community ISP that can be set up anywhere.
Ubiquiti's role in the community and wireless internet provider industry has been substantive and has been a catalyst for their proliferation.
As a tool the Commotion Wireless Project has been used in a range of situations and locales. However as a concept, it has helped raise the profile and possibility of mesh networking.
In the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, KiN, or the Kaslo infoNet Society, has been able to provide high speed broadband Internet to residents at reasonable prices.
The Detroit Equitable Internet Initiative (EII) is a wireless based Internet provider, with a focus on community governance that helps ground the social and economic development in the priorities and needs of the community itself.
MuralNet is an Oakland California based non-profit, that helps indigenous communities in the United States build their own high speed Internet networks.
Combining fibre and wireless connectivity, Guifi.net focuses on empowering local communities and individual users as a grassroots organization that seeks social empowerment as well as the recognition that access to the Internet is a human right.
Philip is among a growing number of technologists who decide to take measures into their own hands and create their own Internet access, for themselves, and their neighbours.