JERSEY CITY, NJ June 1, 2020 — goTenna, the world's leading mobile mesh networking company, today unveiled the goTenna Pro Resilience Network to support nonprofit, research, humanitarian, and volunteer organizations during crisis response, by enabling them to push the boundaries of connectivity and resilient communications for years to come. The network will provide deserving professional organizations on the frontlines of emergencies worldwide with discounted goTenna Pro hardware and software products, as well as access to expert technical support and resources.
Today’s frontline responders increasingly rely on smartphones and mobile applications for real-time information and situational awareness — but these critical tools typically fail when the connection to a centralized cell, wifi, or satellite network is lost, unstable, or otherwise unavailable. Built to pair with any iOS or Android device and a host of compatible software applications, goTenna Pro’s suite of tactical-grade mesh-capable radio hardware is orders of magnitude smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective than legacy mesh networking systems — allowing organizations to create off-grid, peer-to-peer networks even when all other telecommunications systems fail, regardless of the size of their budget and location on the planet.
“We are proud to launch the goTenna Pro Resilience Network to extend the edge of connectivity to countless frontline humanitarian and emergency workers who show up and respond — no matter the risks,” said Daniela Perdomo, Co-Founder and CEO of goTenna. “As we approach potentially record-breaking storm and wildfire seasons, we know the people who put their lives on the line for others should be able to depend on a resilient lifeline to each other and back to central command whether they’re on- or off-the-grid.”
With threats from cybersecurity to climate change, disaster response communications challenges were mounting even before the global COVID-19 outbreak. Industry leaders like Craig Fugate, former Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, have argued that now more than ever, off-grid, mesh-enabled smartphone applications are greatly needed to assist both public and private sector organizations rapidly changing their standard operating procedures to stay safe while saving lives.
One of goTenna’s first nonprofit partners is Project HOPE, a renowned global health and humanitarian relief organization currently supporting medical workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability to keep distributed teams connected is integral as Project HOPE works to place power in the hands of local health care workers to save lives across the globe. Designed for the highest-stakes situations, goTenna’s mesh networks guarantee resilient situational awareness on the ground in critical life-or-death moments.
“As a global organization working to address public health challenges around the world, we have encountered our fair share of communication issues when grids go down,” said Tom Cotter, Director of Emergency Response and Preparedness at Project HOPE. “We are thrilled to work with goTenna to help keep our teams safe, connected, and empowered to devote their full attention to saving lives and uplifting communities.”
goTenna is committed to pushing the boundaries of connectivity and aiding in preparing for disasters long before they occur. In this vein, the goTenna Pro Resilience Network will also support educational institutions like Indiana University’s Crisis Technologies Innovation Lab (CTIL), which supports first responders with innovative technology. With access to goTenna Pro X devices and the company’s software development kit (SDK), CTIL, part of the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, will be conducting research and field trials with members of local and federal search and rescue teams. Through these projects, goTenna’s research partnership with CTIL aims to create reliable infrastructure that will be present when all else fails and to enable frontline responders to establish a common operating picture in a disrupted environment.
“We look forward to working with goTenna to develop the alternative communications technologies that will keep first responders connected through reliable infrastructure,” said David Wild, Co-Director of the CrisisTechnologies Innovation Lab. “With ever-increasing natural disasters and other unprecedented challenges, we need to build reliable technology to thrive and become crisis-resilient as a society.”
Through technology, training, and research, the goTenna Pro Resilience Network supports nonprofits working alongside affected communities to respond to crises worldwide — from the immediate aftermath of a crisis to future preparedness. goTenna will continue to expand the network with new partnerships and research opportunities to empower humanitarian and emergency response teams to take action in times of crisis. Interested nonprofit, research, and volunteer organizations may apply to join the goTenna Pro Resilience Network at https://gotennapro.com/pages/non-profit.
