Natural disasters can severely disrupt public telecommunications infrastructure. Earthquakes, floods and hurricanes may damage mobile base stations, power supplies and Internet backbones, preventing emergency responders from coordinating rescue operations when communication is needed most.
Without access to reliable communications, rescue teams struggle to exchange information, coordinate field operations and support affected populations. Restoring connectivity rapidly is therefore one of the first priorities following a disaster.
The Mobifree project demonstrates how an autonomous communication infrastructure can be deployed in less than ten minutes using Rapid.Space Open Radio Station (ORS) Communication Poles. The demonstration carried out by Rapid.Space and Waag Institute reproduces a realistic earthquake scenario in which public mobile networks and Internet connectivity are unavailable, requiring emergency responders to establish an independent communication network.
Rapid.Space ORS
Rapid.Space is a resilient 4G/5G edge cloud operator with a global presence. Our international, Fully Open infrastructure is built on the core principles of openness, transparency, portability, and reversibility. This includes open source software, open hardware, and open operating procedures. It manufactures an autonomous base station tailored for private networks. For detailed information, please visit:
The key advantages of ORS include:
- All-in-one 4G/5G base station, core network and edge cloud.
- Rapid deployment with minimal infrastructure.
- Point-to-point wireless connectivity between communication poles.
- Native IPv6 networking.
- Local communication services including Delta.Chat and Galène.
- Internet connectivity propagation when an external connection is available.
Waag Futurelab
Waag works in a trans-disciplinary team of designers, artists and scientists, utilising public research methods in the realms of technology and society. This is how Waag enables as many people as possible to design an open, fair and inclusive future.
Challenge: network is down after a natural disaster
The demonstration reproduces a disaster response scenario in which an earthquake has destroyed the public telecommunications infrastructure. Mobile coverage and Internet connectivity are no longer available, preventing emergency responders from communicating efficiently.
The objective is to determine whether a complete communication infrastructure can be deployed in less than ten minutes using autonomous equipment only, while providing secure communication services for field operations.
Components Required for One Mast Unit
Each mast unit consists of three transport cases:
Mast Case (60 kg)
Includes:
- One tripod (14 kg)
- One mast (13 kg)
- Accessories (12 kg):
- Hammer
- Guy wires
- Ground stakes
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The mast is transported in a rugged protective case, designed for safe transport and quick deployment in the field.
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The mast case contains the mast and its tripod
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The removable storage compartment contains the deployment accessories, including guy wires, ground stakes, a hammer, and the tools required for installation.
Electronics Case (27 kg)
Includes:
- One battery (21 kg)
- One electronics case (3 kg)
- One battery charger
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Both are securely stored for transport and ready for rapid deployment.
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The green transport case contains the battery and a dedicated compartment for the orange electronics case, which houses the control equipment.
Antenna Case (7 kg)
Includes:
- One ORS
- One 4G/5G antenna
- Two Wi-Fi antennas
- One mast mounting bracket
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All securely stored in a dedicated transport case for safe handling and rapid deployment.
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The antenna case contains the 4G/5G antenna, the ORS, and their associated mounting hardware.
Solution Deployment
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The Mobifree deployment relies on autonomous communication poles powered by portable batteries and interconnected through point-to-point wireless links.
Simulation deployment of a Rapid.Space Open Radio Station (ORS) communication pole in Auvergne, demonstrating the rapid installation of a private 4G/5G emergency network in a rural environment.
If one mast has an Internet connection, all UEs have Internet.
Each ORS Communication Pole provides private 4G/5G mobile coverage together with local communication services. Emergency responders can connect compatible mobile devices to access secure messaging with Delta.Chat, browser-based video conferencing with Galène and other local applications running directly on the edge cloud.
Test Sites
The Mobifree Disaster Response Demonstration is carried out across two test sites designed to validate the deployment of an autonomous communication infrastructure under different operating conditions.
Site 1: Short Range
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The first test site focuses on the initial validation of the deployment. Communication poles are installed approximately 700 metres apart to verify battery-powered operation, point-to-point link alignment and the complete deployment procedure. This site is used to ensure that all network components operate correctly before the public demonstration.
Site 2: Long Range
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The second test site evaluates the network under real world conditions over longer distances. Communication poles are deployed between 3 and 4 kilometres apart to validate the performance of the point-to-point wireless backbone and the propagation of IPv6 connectivity across the autonomous network. This site also hosts the field demonstration with project partners, showcasing the deployment of a resilient private communication infrastructure for disaster response scenarios.
Conclusion
The Mobifree Disaster Response Demonstration illustrates how autonomous communication infrastructure can support emergency response operations when conventional telecommunications infrastructure becomes unavailable.
By combining ORS Communication Poles, point-to-point wireless links, battery-powered equipment and open-source communication services, Rapid.Space demonstrates a practical and resilient solution for restoring local communications in disaster scenarios. The demonstration also highlights the contribution of European open technologies to building secure, autonomous and resilient communication infrastructures for humanitarian organisations and civil protection agencies.
About Mobifree
Mobifree is a pilot programme designed to push beyond the status quo of mobile software, and create a virtuous cycle of innovation through free and open source software, libre hardware and open standards. It has brought together a number of the "movers and shakers" of the open mobile ecosystem, in order to deliver a comprehensive development effort and advance a number of important free and open source technologies.
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