It's hard to believe that authorities still need to be told about the benefits of a more open infrastructure, but it's clear the message isn't getting through, as we find federal agencies placing huge legal locks that block (or greatly hinder) the modification of modems and/or routers through a firmware replacement. The project LibreRouter aims to avoid these regulations and design an open source router based on OpenWrt that helps users (whether individuals or community networks) install and maintain alternative connectivity paths.
Why Open Firmware Matters
Replacing your router's firmware with an open source option is an excellent idea. Not only will you learn a lot about networks in the process, but you'll also unleash your device's full potential, improve its security and extend its useful life. The best example I can give is still my WRT54G router running DD-WRT (if it depended on the market, that router should be in the trash), but I don't want to get stuck on a personal case. Hardware equipped with open, open source firmware makes it easier to install and maintain community networks that provide connectivity in regions where traditional providers don't see a "commercial incentive" big enough to bring their infrastructure.
Pushing Back Against Restrictive Regulations
So what's the problem then? In essence, most router manufacturers follow US market requirements, and with the FCC order to prevent firmware modifications for "security concerns", some names (TP-Link is the first that comes to mind) decided to adopt the new regulations, which from a technical standpoint is "the cheapest" option for them. While Linksys confirmed that its WRT line of routers will continue to support firmware versions developed by third parties, those third parties also have other ideas, among which we find LibreRouter. The LibreRouter project seeks to create a router with open specifications that distances itself from regulations (which aren't useless, but shouldn't extend their influence to an entire global market) and prioritizes the needs of community networks, starting with greater flexibility and lower cost. The specifications of LibreRouter reveal an Atheros AR9344 chip with triple radio support (one 2.4 GHz band and two 5 GHz bands), 128 megabytes of RAM, and 32 megabytes of Flash memory, more than enough to receive the latest stable version of OpenWrt, which is 15.05.1.
Of course, the specifications are subject to change, but those responsible have already been in contact with the Chinese manufacturer Dragino to see which is the best path in that regard. Once again, we must remember and highlight the importance of community networks, since they can fill the void that conventional providers decide not to cover because it isn't profitable for them (which translates into digitally excluded towns). Initiatives like LibreRouter serve as fertile ground for that kind of network, and we already hope it advances at full speed.
