Facebook announces OpenCellular open source wireless access platform

Facebook has announced OpenCellular open source wireless access platform, the company’s latest technology to bring connectivity to remote areas of the world.

OpenCellular is Facebook’s latest project when it comes to providing mobile connectivity in remote places, following the solar-powered aircraft Aquila and high-bandwidth laser communications system. It’s a small device (the size of a shoe box) installed with hardware and software components required to provide basic data connectivity from 2G and LTE to Wi-Fi access points.

During testing, Facebook was able to send and receive SMS messages, make voice calls, and use basic data connectivity using 2G implementation. Mark Zuckerberg says that it can support up to 1,500 people from as far as 10 kilometers away.

And since it is open source, telecom operators, entrepreneurs, OEMs, and researchers can build, implement, deploy, and operate wireless infrastructure based on this platform. Facebook is also planning to work with Telecom Infra Project (TIP) members to build an active open source community around cellular access technology development and to select trial locations for further testing of the platform.

source: Facebook