What is Mobile Mesh Networking?
The beginners guide to mobile mesh networks: what they are and why they are important
What is mobile mesh networking?
Mobile mesh networks form by creating peer-to-peer (or device-to-device) connections between mobile phones or IoT (internet of things) devices. Connections form through Bluetooth, WiFi direct, and existing phone technologies.
Once a device connects to a mobile mesh network, it can send messages, files, data, etc., in one of two ways:
- Data can be sent in a single ‘hop’ directly from one device to another.
- Data can be delivered in a ‘multi-hop’ manner, with messages being transferred through many nodes (devices) until it reaches its endpoint. This method facilitates offline message delivery, over greater distances.
For example, imagine you’re at a music festival, in a remote area, with no cell phone service. You came with your friend, but amidst the crowd, you’ve been separated. Although you have no connectivity bars, you do have a mesh-enabled messaging app. You’re able to send a message from one side of the festival that hops from device to device securely, without being made visible to anyone, until it reaches your friend on the other side (F.1).
What makes mobile mesh networking different than other mesh networks?
1. With mobile mesh networks, the nodes are not stationary and are constantly in motion.
2. Mobile mesh network platforms, such as RightMesh, use a direct routing algorithm based on ideal path routing that is resource efficient, as opposed to broadcasting messages to all nodes in the mesh which is resource intensive.
Why does mesh networking matter?
The world is dependent on connectivity, and data usage is growing. According to Ericsson’s latest mobility report, global smartphone traffic will increase 8X by 2022, and it would require a $500B investment in traditional infrastructure to maintain status quo. The increasing number of internet users is creating a lot of network congestion and is not sustainable.
To highlight the amount of network congestion that occurs, let’s use the example of the way you send a Whatsapp message to a friend sitting beside you at a conference (F.2). The message goes from your phone, to the conference WiFi, to the regional Internet Service Providers (ISP), up to the internet backbone where it recognizes the IP address of your friend’s device, and travels all the way back down until it reaches their phone. That’s a long and complicated journey just to travel across the room.
In contrast to typical infrastructures, mobile mesh networks allow people to connect directly to each other and only use the internet when it is needed rather than being connected to the internet at all times. In the case of sending a message to the friend sitting beside you, the message would only need to pass from device to device — no other steps needed. This decreases the pressure on the network and increases connectivity speeds.
My connectivity is fine, so why should I care?
Many people take for granted that WiFi is available on every corner, such as in a coffee shop, and that the coffee shop has reasonably fast Internet access attached to it.
In many parts of the world though, Internet connectivity is very slow, unreliable, too expensive, or simply non-existent. In fact, more than half the world’s population does not have internet access due to prohibitive broadband costs and a lack of infrastructure. According to the UN’s International Telecommunications Union the problem is most acute among the world’s “female, elderly, less educated, lower-income and rural (populations)”.
Both developed and developing markets are impacted. Within the United States, 39% of rural Americans still lack broadband Internet access, as stated in the 2016 Broadband Progress Report. In developing countries, this percentage is much higher, such as in Kenya where 1GB of data costs the same as rent for a week, and poorer citizens need to constantly chose between connectivity and daily basics.
As mobile mesh networks allow people to connect to each other directly, instead of being dependent on being connected to the Internet all the time, and do not require expensive infrastructure, platforms like RightMesh can make connectivity more accessible.
What are the uses cases for mobile mesh networks?
- Improved Connectivity: With the growing rate of internet users, the current infrastructure cannot keep pace. Telecom infrastructure requires $500B investment to maintain status quo alone. Mobile mesh networks connect people to each other, rather than necessarily to the internet, reducing network congestion. When internet access is needed, it’s less overloaded and everyone benefits.
Some examples include:
- University campuses
- Conferences
- Congested areas like train stations - Decreased Digital Divide: More than half the world suffers from a lack of access to shared global information such as healthcare and educational resources. Connectivity is proven to improve social and economic conditions. Mobile mesh networking platforms like RightMesh are transforming smartphones into nodes in a self-forming, self-healing and self-regulating network, to enhance social benefits and health outcomes.
Some examples include:
- Geo-specific community-defined needs
- Health related alerts
- Distance education facilitation
- Communication platforms for refugee camps - Connection when all other options fail — Natural Disasters:
Tornados, tsunamis, cyclones, wildfires, floods… our world has been ravaged by extreme weather conditions, and our changing climate is likely to increase the frequency and impact of further catastrophes. By providing connectivity options that don’t rely on traditional infrastructure, mobile mesh networks allow emergency responders to connect with each other and those in needs.
Examples include:
- Emergency alerts
- Messaging
- Geo-locating - Freedom of Connection — #KeepItOn:
In 2018, there were 188 incidents of nationwide internet shutdowns, and this number continues to grow. In numerous countries, authorities filter email, block access to websites, monitor online activity, or provide access only at specific “access points”.
By decentralizing connectivity and allowing true peer-to-peer communication, mobile mesh networks support communication freedom and the concept of net neutrality.
Examples Include:
- User generated news
- Messaging
- Security and piece of mind
Final Thoughts:
Global data usage is growing, and with it, so is the digital divide. Traditional infrastructure cannot maintain pace, and alternative innovative solutions are needed to facilitate expansion.
Mobile mesh networks offer a solution, from connecting devices in the same room, to addressing real and prevalent problems, like during a natural disaster.
It is time to address the connectivity problem that impacts 3.9 billion people world wide.
It is time to #MoveToMesh.
Stay in touch:
- Rocket.Chat: https://rocketchat.rightmesh.io
- Telegram announcements: https://t.me/rightmeshannouncements
- Website: https://rightmesh.io
- FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheRightMesh/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Right_Mesh
- Reddit: https://reddit.com/r/rightmesh
