Entrepreneurial thinking, innovation and selflessness can make things better during crises. Here is a look at how organizations reacted and telecommunications products helped during recent hurricane crises.
Communicating Off the Grid During Storms
Two realities: 1. Though networks are growing more robust, stable and reliable, they will never be impervious to bad weather. 2. Entrepreneurs fill needs as they occur.
One such entrepreneurial initiative aimed at network downtime is goTenna and goTenna Mesh. The technology enables people to create ad hoc networks. CEO Daniela Perdomo told The Washington Post that downloads of the app spiked after Hurricane Harvey and before Hurricane Irma.
The app, which is used by the military and disaster workers, can pair with a phone’s GPS and text using Bluetooth and create connections that cover four miles (though coverage is less depending upon terrain) if the telecom network crashes. The devices can also be used to create larger networks.