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Where Cellular Networks Don't Exist, People Are Building Their Own

Posted by Soulskill on from the teach-a-man-to-mobile-and-he'll-tweet-for-the-rest-of-his-life dept.

New submitter TechCurmudgeon writes: According to a story at Wired, towns in Mexico that aren't served by the nation's telecom monopoly are taking matters in their own hands with the help of a non-profit and open source technology. "Strategically ignored by Mexico's major telecoms, Yaee is putting itself on the mobile communications grid with the help of a Oaxaca-based telecommunications non-profit called Rhizomatica." A locally-made tower is the backbone of Yaee's first cellular network. The town's network is composed of two antennas and an open-source base station from a Canadian company called NuRAN. Once Yaee gets the tower installed and the network online, its 500 citizens will, for the first time, be able to make cell phone calls from home, and for cheaper rates than almost anywhere else in Mexico.

3 of 104 comments (clear)

  1. ..cheaper than almost anywhere else in Mexico by Bearhouse · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well, that's not surprising since it's a virtual monopoly controlled by one of the world's richest men; Carlos Slim.

    {snip} Telmex, of which 49.1% is owned by Slim and his family, charges among the highest usage fees in the world, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...

  2. Monopoly? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Not sure why TFS mentions "monopoly". I have the choice of at least 4 different wireless vendors where I live - and it's not even in a large city. I think someone needs to consult their Webster's.

  3. Re:what about spectrums rights? by ciaby · · Score: 3, Interesting

    i imagine if you did this in the usa you'd get sued for using spectrums you don't own. does anyone care in mexico?

    Well, we do have licenses ;) And we're actually pushing for more spectrum, right now. Source: I'm _the_ Italian guy mentioned in TFA.