A Simple Box That Can Bring The Internet Anywhere

The solar-powered Tethr is designed to help restore communications quickly after a disaster. Aaron Huslage didn’t start out to work in communications for hard-to-reach places. In 2005, he was working in the aftermath of Katrina. He led a huge volunteer effort to set up a wireless network that spanned 250 miles of the disaster area. Using donated equipment, expertise, and time, the group managed to create a network that provided free Internet and phone service to between 70,000 and 80,000 people for half a year following the hurricane. “I realized what we were doing was great, but we were reinventing the wheel, which is not a sustainable thing for disaster relief,” says Huslage. “I knew there was an easier way, but the hardware and software weren’t there yet, to make it really easy to use, fast, and transparent.”Read Full Story