Post #1493404

2026-01-28 07:17 UTC

There are some really cool community owned WISP and mesh networks set ups in areas doing green fields tbh. As well as open source 5g networks (which for parts of Africa is cool because they have some pretty advanced SMS based services).

Replies (1)

@partial_accumen@lemmy.world 2026-01-28 13:19

So WISPs and 5G networks address "last mile" access. According to the article Google and Facebook are building undersea cables which don't compete with last mile services, and in fact can help them as the existing backhaul circuits become saturated from continued new WISP and 5G users being added. I think its fantastic that there are community built efforts to bring people online. However, it sounds like these are small pockets of efforts instead of national or continental efforts. If the WISPs or 5G service area are only in pockets, is it fair that millions of people should go without access to the internet just because they don't live in one of the areas served by those existing community efforts?

Open ##1493405