When Cellular Networks Fail
When Cellular Networks Fail: How Decentralized Technology Can Keep Us Connected
On 13 October 2025, Vodafone went dark for hundreds of thousands of people across the UK. No 4G. No 5G. No broadband. It was a reminder that the networks we depend on are more fragile than we think.
LoRa mesh devices — self-healing communication networks that work when cellular goes dark
On Monday, 13 October 2025, at around 2:38 PM BST, Vodafone suffered a major outage that left hundreds of thousands of people without 4G, 5G, or broadband. Apps, websites, and even customer support portals went dark. The culprit was a vendor software issue rather than a cyberattack, but the consequences were immediate and the lesson was the same either way: our communication lives depend entirely on infrastructure we do not control, and when centralized networks fail, millions lose access instantly.
Centralized vs. Decentralized: Why the Architecture Matters
Centralized networks are controlled end-to-end by a single operator. Users have no autonomy within them, and when the system fails, connectivity vanishes completely. Decentralized networks work differently. Control is spread across multiple independent nodes, each capable of operating on its own, relaying messages, and keeping the network alive even when others around it go down. That architecture adds a layer of resilience that centralized systems simply cannot match, and the Vodafone outage is a clear illustration of why that difference matters in practice.
Relying entirely on centralized infrastructure is not just a convenience issue. It is a structural vulnerability. When one point fails, everyone connected to it fails with it. // The lesson of 13 October 2025
LoRa and Mesh Networks: Communication Off the Grid
LoRa, which stands for Long Range, is a low-power radio technology designed for exactly the scenarios where cellular fails. It operates over unlicensed radio frequencies and can carry signals across several kilometres with minimal power consumption. When combined with mesh networking — where every device in the network can relay data for every other device — the result is a self-healing communication layer that requires no towers, no SIM cards, and no internet connection to function.
Open-source platforms like Meshtastic have made this accessible to anyone. Meshtastic allows users to build encrypted, off-grid messaging networks across communities of devices, each one becoming a node that strengthens the whole. The more devices on the network, the wider and more resilient it becomes, and because the mesh is self-healing, losing one node does not take down the rest.
- Lilygo T-Deck — standalone mesh communicator with built-in keyboard and screen, no phone required for direct secure messaging
- Heltec V3 — compact, capable LoRa node widely used in Meshtastic deployments
- W1Pro Tracker by Seeed Studio — ruggedised device suited to field and outdoor use
The Lilygo T-Deck stands out in particular. Unlike devices that rely on a paired smartphone to interact with the mesh, the T-Deck has its own built-in keyboard and display, enabling direct, secure messaging without any dependency on a potentially compromised mobile device. That independence matters in scenarios where phones themselves cannot be trusted or have run out of power.
What These Networks Are — and Are Not — Built For
LoRa mesh networks are not designed to replace cellular infrastructure for high-bandwidth use. You will not be streaming video or making voice calls over them. What they provide is something more targeted and in many situations more valuable: reliable, low-bandwidth messaging and sensor data transmission when everything else has gone down. For emergency coordination, community resilience, and off-grid operations, that capability is a genuine lifeline.
Future articles will go deeper into advanced features including ghost nodes and automated routing, exploring how decentralized networks can extend their coverage, security, and resilience even further. The Vodafone outage was a reminder. The technology to respond to it already exists.
The networks we depend on are not as solid as they feel. The tools to build something more resilient are already in our hands.
