Georgia Tech professor envisions greater reliance on device-to-device communications after a disaster. LifeNet allows consumer devices to form ad hoc Wi-Fi networks without the need to work with cellular towers or base stations. Some question whether relying on texting or emailing in a storm is enough. Satellite phones are one option, but they are relatively expensive; another option is the old-fashioned two-way radio that runs on amateur-radio and public-safety bands. The LifeNet is in its early stages, but it is still a working prototype, which was demonstrated recently.”]
Source: https://www.csoonline.com/article/2129441/peer-to-peer–wireless-network-could-help-in-disasters.html