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Australian scientists have invented software that enables mobile phones to work in remote areas where there is no conventional coverage and in locations where the infrastructure has been destroyed through disaster, or is not economically viable.The “Serval Project” technology enables ordinary mobile phones to make and receive calls without the need for phone towers or satellites.

Converting a cell phone into a cell tower The project includes two systems that can operate separately or be combined. One is specifically for disaster areas, and consists of a temporary, self-organizing and self-powered mobile phone network that operates via small phone towers dropped into the area by aircraft.The second system consists of a permanent mesh-based phone network between Wi-Fi enabled mobile phones, with no tower infrastructure required. It incorporates a compact version of a mobile phone tower into the phone itself, using the Wi-Fi interface in Wi-Fi-enabled phones.The current range between phones is only a few hundred meters, which limits the usefulness of the system in remote areas, but adding small transmitters and more devices could expand the range considerably.

Increasing the role of governments in cyberspace could spell disaster for the free nature of the Internet, top American officials and analysts said on Wednesday. Rather than seeking expanded government control, countries, companies, and other organizations should seek to strengthen a "multi-stakeholder" approach that allows input from everyone, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Larry Strickling told an audience at the Brookings Institution.

"Each challenge to the multi-stakeholder model has implications for Internet governance throughout the world," he said. "When parties ask us to overturn the outcomes of these processes, no matter how well-intentioned the request, they are providing ammunition to other countries who would like to see governments take control of the Internet."

He said efforts to more strictly control cyberspace will only lead to stagnation.