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So.. Satellites are the endgame? Mesh is only for close stuff, and unless everyone has rooted androids already with the apps, it can be shut down at any moment(like China did with Hong Kong and Apple).

If I play with ideas, maybe some people could set up antennas, but that is a huge project for hobbyists. Maybe the minority faction in a country could fund this.

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Private cells or wireless mesh networks with satellite links to avoid government controlled networks. The problem is for a robust network you have to be prepared with gear ahead of time.

I could see capturing cell towers and replacing the network link with satellite to restore some network without controlling physical wires.

Mesh is inherently easy to track for the government though (even if we ignore DoS). You could analyze irregular RF patterns and target node operators. Wouldn't take long before people completely stop using them.

The goal is to have comms even if the government turns off their networks. Mesh networks or private cell networks do that. Some desire to get information out of Iran. Others just want to check in on loved ones. Anything is better than nothing.

Running comms during war is dangerous but it has to be done. I think the people I have seen asking how to communicate when the government turns of networks understand the risks.

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