In January 2026, we deployed the first three LoRa mesh nodes across the Jumla valley. The goal: establish resilient, community-owned communication infrastructure without cellular towers, satellite dependency, or recurring costs.
Why Mesh?
Cellular coverage in Jumla is non-existent beyond the district headquarters. Satellite internet costs $100+ per month with unreliable connectivity. Emergency communication relies on messengers traveling on foot or motorcycle.
A peer-to-peer mesh network changes this. Each node extends the network. Every new node makes the system stronger. There are no monthly fees, no central point of failure, and the hardware can be built with off-the-shelf components.
The Deployment
We placed three solar-powered nodes at strategic points: the Jumla airstrip, the district hospital, and a high ridge overlooking the valley. Each node consists of:
- ESP32 microcontroller
- LoRa radio module (915 MHz)
- 20W solar panel with charge controller
- 12Ah battery
- Weatherproof enclosure (locally sourced)
The nodes create a mesh that extends approximately 6km across the valley floor, with the ridge node providing an additional 4km line-of-sight link to a neighboring village.
Results
Message delivery rate over the first two weeks was 94%. Average latency was under 30 seconds. The system reliably delivered text messages, emergency alerts, and sensor data (well water levels, weather station readings).
The most unexpected outcome: local teenagers quickly learned to build and troubleshoot the nodes. Two are now training to deploy the next set of nodes to surrounding villages.
What’s Next
We’re building five more nodes for deployment next month, extending coverage to three additional villages. The full hardware design and firmware are being prepared for open-source release. If you want to deploy a mesh network in your region, start with the /regions blueprint.