AWARD YEAR
2017
CATEGORY
Community
GOALS
Navigate Post-Factual Society
KEYWORDS
access to internet, wireless technology
COUNTRY
United States of America
DESIGNED BY
Facebook
WEBSITE
https://code.facebook.com/posts/1754757044806180/introducing-opencellular-an-open-source-wireless-access-platform
OpenCellular
open source project to bring a more affordable wireless access platform to remote areas
OpenCellular is a hardware device that attaches to a tree or a street lamp or a telephone pole, and from there it can drive a wireless network, including traditional 2G cell-phone networks, higher speed LTE cellular networks, and smaller Wi-Fi networks like those inside your home, office, or local coffee shop. Facebook plans on open sourcing the designs for this device, freely sharing them with the world at large, and the hope is that it can provide a simpler and less expensive way of erecting wireless networks in the more rural areas of the developing world, including parts of Africa and India.