LibreRouter, a high performance wireless router for Community Networks

Community Networks (such as Guifi.net or Freifunk) have been depending since their inception on modifying existing off-the-shelf routers to adapt them to their particular needs. Software development originated in Community Network groups and the Free Software movement as a whole, has pushed the barrier of innovation and helped commercial enterprises develop new products over the years.

This virtuous relation between hardware vendors and the community has been threatened by new regulation from the Federal Communications Commision (FCC) – U.S.A. – which has led vendors to globally close up their routers to third party modifications, hindering open innovation and effectively closing the door to Community Networks in terms of access to the hardware they depend on.

The LibreRouter (https://librerouter.org/) project, conceived by AlterMundi.net and LibreMesh.org members, and coordinated with more organizations around the world, will design and produce a high performance multi-radio wireless router targeted at Community Networks needs.

Currently the design is done and the first test units are being processed. On this talk we will explain our motivation and share our experience.

Speakers: Pau, Gui