Still connected when everything stops
The MeshCore community network runs without internet or mains power. When mobile networks are congested or unavailable, you may still be reachable.
The pattern that repeats
Watch the news during any major incident. Flooding across Yorkshire, Storm Eunice battering the South West, the Beast from the East grinding southern England to a halt. The same story appears every time: communications fails precisely when people need it most.
MeshCore uses LoRa radio technology that operates on a completely different basis. No internet backbone required. No mobile masts to maintain. No grid power dependency. No commercial provider in the loop. When conventional systems collapse, MeshCore can keep working.
LocalMesh helps households and communities across the UK develop communications capability that may remain available during exactly the scenarios where everything else stops. LocalMesh is a community project. Coverage depends on volunteer participation and varies by location. Not a replacement for emergency services – always dial 999 in emergencies.
Situations where you need alternatives
MeshCore proves valuable when conventional options fail:
Flood events
Rising water floods telephone exchanges and drowns electrical substations. Entire exchanges go offline. MeshCore has no infrastructure to submerge.
Grid failures
Your router dies instantly. Mobile masts exhaust backup generators within hours. LoRa devices continue for days on small batteries.
Storm damage
Falling trees bring down power lines and damage masts. Distributed mesh networks have no centralised infrastructure to destroy.
Evacuation scenarios
Coordinate with family during evacuation. Share locations. Confirm safety. Communicate even when mobile networks are saturated or offline.
Network outages
Provider failures, cyber incidents, technical problems. MeshCore has no connection to any telecommunications company.
Infrastructure breakdown
No dependence on the elaborate web of fibre, exchanges, and data centres that underlies all normal communications. MeshCore offers an independent, off-grid alternative.
Why normal communications fails
Every crisis exposes the same weaknesses:
Power dependency
WhatsApp requires internet. Internet requires powered routers. Routers require mains electricity. Break any link and everything stops.
Capacity saturation
During emergencies everyone tries to call simultaneously. Networks engineered for ordinary traffic collapse under surge demand.
Limited backup duration
Mobile masts carry battery backup for 4-8 hours at most. Extended power cuts simply exhaust these reserves.
Centralised vulnerability
Normal communications routes through exchanges and data centres. Damage any critical node and service disappears across wide areas.
How MeshCore avoids these problems
MeshCore addresses each weakness through fundamental design:
Direct radio links
Devices communicate via LoRa radio Signals. No routing through company infrastructure. No intermediate servers.
Automatic message forwarding
Messages hop through intermediate devices to reach destinations. Every device participates in extending coverage.
Self-repairing routes
When any device goes offline, the network discovers alternative paths automatically. No single point of failure exists.
Store-and-forward delivery
Messages addressed to offline recipients are held in the network and delivered when they reconnect.
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Crisis communication advantages
Can be available
Operates without internet, mains power, or provider services. May be available when conventional communications has collapsed.
Remarkable endurance
Days to weeks of battery operation. Outlasts the power cuts that disable every other option.
No ongoing costs
Buy once, use indefinitely. No monthly payments for capability you hope never to need.
Genuinely private
End-to-end encryption for private conversations. Your messages belong to you.
Familiar interface
Connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth. Messaging feels as natural as any chat app.
Growing coverage
Active communities across the UK. Coverage expands as adoption grows.
What you can accomplish during a crisis
Practical applications when normal communications stops:
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Reach family: Confirm loved ones are safe when mobile networks are congested or unavailable
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Share position: Transmit GPS coordinates for evacuation or rescue
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Request help: Send messages when assistance is needed
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Coordinate locally: Organise community response and mutual aid
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Get information: Learn about developing situations from others in the network
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Signal safety: Let people know your household is accounted for
Questions about crisis communications
What distance can I cover during an emergency?
Messages hop through multiple devices. Coverage from London to Manchester and beyond is achievable if repeaters exist along the route.
Does this genuinely work without any internet?
Completely. MeshCore uses LoRa radio, entirely independent of internet infrastructure. Designed specifically for situations where internet has failed.
What investment is required?
LoRa devices start around £50. No subscriptions, no ongoing charges. A modest investment in genuine preparedness.
Do I need technical expertise?
Basic operation is straightforward: power on, pair to phone, send messages. Our guide covers everything needed.
How long does power last during extended emergencies?
3-7 days with regular use, potentially weeks in power-saving mode. A small power bank extends capability further.
Where are people using MeshCore?
Active communities exist in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Bristol, and across rural Britain. Check the coverage map.
Prepare before, not after
Emergencies arrive without warning. Communications failures during them are predictable. MeshCore provides capability that can work when conventional systems have stopped. Prepare before the next storm, flood, or major incident.