Most of us rent our internet from a monopoly.
When they raise prices, enforce data caps, or block sites, you have no leverage.
Digital sovereignty means exploring alternatives — even if they’re small-scale.
Mesh Networks: The DIY Backbone
A mesh is simple in concept:
- Neighbours connect routers wirelessly
- The network routes locally before hitting the wider internet
- If one node fails, traffic hops around it
It’s fragile at first, but it grows stronger as more people join.
Co-operative ISPs: Owning the Pipes
Some communities build co-ops:
- Members fund and govern the infrastructure
- Profits (if any) go back into the network
- Policies reflect local needs, not shareholder pressure
It’s not a utopia; it’s a hedge against monopoly control.
Why Bother?
Centralised networks are single points of failure:
- Corporate outages knock whole regions offline
- Policy changes can censor or throttle
- Rural areas get neglected entirely
Local ownership gives some control back.
Practical Steps
You don’t have to lay fibre tomorrow:
- Research existing community networks in your area
- Contribute hardware or volunteer time
- Run a local node if a mesh exists
Even partial participation gives leverage.
Sovereignty Scales
Community networks won’t replace the global internet.
They will give you:
- Redundancy when big providers fail
- Local communication paths even if the backbone dies
- A voice in how your connection is managed
Sovereignty starts small. A mesh of a dozen houses is better than nothing.
Control Comes With Responsibility
Owning infrastructure means maintaining it.
But if you care about who controls your digital life, building local is one of the few levers you have.
You don’t get sovereignty handed to you.
You build it, one node at a time.