Mesh networking creëert networks waar elke node kan communiceren met andere nodes, zonder centrale infrastructure. Dit enables truly decentralized internet.
Hoe mesh networks werken
Instead van hub-and-spoke model, mesh networks gebruiken peer-to-peer connections waar elke device kan data forwarden.
- Self-healing - automatic route reconfiguration
- Redundancy - multiple paths tussen nodes
- Scalability - network groeit met elke node
- Resilience - geen single point of failure
- Ad-hoc - nodes kunnen komen en gaan
Mesh networking technologies
Verschillende protocols enable mesh networking voor various use cases:
| Technology | Range | Use Case | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| WiFi Mesh | 100m | Home networking | Eero, Orbi |
| LoRaWAN | 15km | IoT sensors | Smart city |
| Bluetooth Mesh | 10m | Smart lighting | Philips Hue |
| Disaster.radio | 5km | Emergency comms | Crisis response |
Community mesh networks
Grassroots communities bouwen local mesh networks voor internet access zonder relying op ISPs.
NYC Mesh: Community-built mesh network provides internet access in New York City. Volunteers install routers on rooftops, creating resilient local internet.
Nederlandse mesh initiatives
Freifunk movement heeft Nederlandse chapters. Community networks in rural areas waar commercial ISPs geen service bieden.
Legal framework: Amateur radio licenses allow high-power mesh networking. Community networks zijn legal als ze don't interfere met licensed spectrum.
Mesh voor censorship resistance
Mesh networks kunnen internet access maintainen during government shutdowns of natural disasters.
Limitations: Mesh networks hebben limited bandwidth, higher latency, en require technical knowledge voor setup. Not replacement voor fiber internet maar valuable backup.
Decentralized internet protocols
IPFS, Dat, en andere protocols enable content distribution zonder centralized servers.
Getting started: Join local Freifunk community, experiment met Raspberry Pi mesh nodes, learn about IPFS voor decentralized web hosting. Start small, think big.
Toekomst van mesh internet
Satellite constellations, 5G mesh capabilities, en IoT device proliferation maken mesh networking more viable voor mainstream adoption.