Introducing OpenCellular: An open source wireless access platform
The obvious question is "what about licensing"?The modules will need to pass EMC Compliance testing and be issued Compliance Certificates (expensive!).A suitable Cell frequency plan will need to be created, approved by the local government, and then (expensive!) Radio Licenses issued.Licensing as a Carrier and approval to connect with the local Telcom provider will need to be arranged, along with the (expensive!) registration fees.Then when you have it running you'll suddenly run into interference problems from all the unlicensed boxes already installed by well meaning NGO's and private organisations. Not to mention clashes with networks in neighboring countries.Bottom line: It's not as simple as just mounting radio box on a post and switching it on.Open Source phone towers are not a new concept. Has been already done in a number of third world and island states. But without government licensing and approval to back you up, a bunch of soldiers will arrive and simply rip out your gear.The above questions/comments are based on actual field experience in third world countries...