Open source phone networks

Many countries have 'leapfrogged' the need for landlines and gone straight to mobile and the explosion in growth has been extraordinary. However, there are still many areas without access or poor access in developing and developed countries. Range Networks has developed "the world’s lowest cost, sustainable, full featured GSM infrastructure providing voice, messaging and data services for a wide range of applications and environments.”

The system can be used to rig up GSM networks easily and cheaply. "The system behind it all is reportedly the size of a shoebox, and it requires just 50 watts of power to operate, making it very amenable to solar power or other off-grid energies." It was used at Burning Man recently.

Cities could also have something similar in place when disasters strike e.g. recent Brisbane floods or Japanese Tsunami.

More from Springwiseand Network World.