Digital Poverty

Meshii Wi-Fi is a decentralised mesh network designed to combat digital poverty. Last year, over 1 million residents had to cancel their broadband subscriptions due to financial constraints. In response to this issue, we have developed an intelligent internet-sharing device that can easily integrate with any internet connection.

The meshii network is built by individuals and businesses who share their unused internet with a meshii hub. Each device works as a node in the network, facilitating seamless connectivity in a specific geographic area. As the network grows, we will be able to expand our reach and provide high-speed, low-cost internet to disadvantaged communities. Meshii provides hub owners with a secure way to share their internet, earn passive income, and empower underserved communities.

Rochdale Council in partnership installed a Free to user mesh network for residents living in one of the most deprived and digitally excluded areas of Rochdale; College Bank, Lower Falinge and Freehold. It enabled the provision of large-scale outdoor Wi-Fi coverage, extended from key central points across the area. It provides a cost effective way for residents to access the internet working out at approx. 27 pence per household per month which has been paid for utilising a small pot of money we secured to support people to be digitally included. It allows residents FREE access to the internet when they choose in their own home, allowing individual choice and reducing the reliance and dependency on services for internet provision. Reducing isolation and improving social connectivity. We recognised that the most important thing to address the increasing digital inequalities was to give people access to the internet.

Screen Share has grown from a lockdown bedroom-project into the largest provider of technology to refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. We are the only refugee digital inclusion charity to cover the whole of the UK. We have so far digitally included 671 refugees by distributing laptops, phones, tablets, software, SIM Cards and digital skills training. We have done this by mobilising dozens of people in the tech sector to run basic refurbishment on devices in their own time and advocate for donations of tech. We are run by a combination of tech and refugee sector professionals. We have so far digitally included 671 refugees.