Learning > Building Wireless Community Networks

Building Wireless Community Networks

What is the Building Wireless Community Networks course?

The course consists of training community members in wireless technology and Wi-Fi equipment that uses unlicensed spectrum bands of 2.4 and 5.8 GHz.

The goal is to create wireless networks that belong to and are operated by the community, thus allowing it not only to implement and manage these networks but also to enable the transfer of knowledge.

What are the course objectives?

Acquire basic concepts of the creation of wireless community networks.
Get familiar with experiences that enable the student to get references for the efficient design of wireless community networks.
Acquire the necessary knowledge to design an implementation plan for wireless community networks.
Transfer knowledge about wireless community networks to other members of the community.

What are the expected learning outcomes of this course?

Explain the differences and similarities between the main IEEE 802.11 standards (a, b, g, n, ac), identifying their technical characteristics and determining the most suitable scenarios for each standard.
Understand and apply the fundamental principles of radio wave propagation in wireless communications, Analyzing the impact of environmental conditions on radio wave propagation.
Develop a sustainable business plan for designing, implementing, and managing a community wireless network.
Compare and contrast the OSI model and the TCP/IP architecture, analyzing the functions of each layer and their relationship to commonly used network protocols.
Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of different IP addressing schemes (IPv4 and IPv6).
Design and configure a network, considering the security, performance, and scalability requirements of a wireless community network.
Compare and evaluate different routing protocols (RIP, OSPF, BGP).
Explain the purpose and function of firewalls at different levels.
Describe the characteristics and differences between common wireless network topologies.
Configure wireless devices efficiently and securely, applying knowledge of the physical and link layers along with appropriate security measures.
Develop skills for configuring, optimizing, and troubleshooting wireless networks using modern tools to ensure optimal connectivity, security, and performance.

Who should attend this course?

Technicians, community leaders, or any other stakeholder with interest or who is close to community network initiatives.

You should attend this course if you want to champion the planning, deployment, or managing community networks.

How do I enroll in a course?

How do I access the learning platform as an Internet Society member?

As an Internet Society member, you can log into learning.internetsociety.org with your member login credentials. There is no need to create a new account. If you do not remember your login information, select Forgot Login? to be emailed your username and receive a link to reset your password. Once logged in, you will be able to view the course catalog and select the course you’d like to enroll in.

How do I access the learning platform as a non-member?

Both guests and Internet Society members can access the learning platform. To register as either, click Register on the login box at learning.internetsociety.org. Next, either register as a member or click on the guest registration form to register as a guest. Once you create an account, you can use the credentials you created (username and password) to log into learning.internetsociety.org. Once logged in, you will be able to view the course catalog and enroll in courses.

How do I enroll in a course?

Browse available courses in the course catalog or use the search bar to find the course you would like to enroll in. On each course page, click the “Enroll” button in the top right corner of the page to immediately be added to a course. Once you have successfully been enrolled, you will be able to see the course under “My Courses and Learning Plans”. You will also be able to see information about the course instructor, view the course’s forums, and access any modules that are available. If the course has not yet started, you will not see any modules until the day the course begins.

How do I join the waitlist for a course?

If you are on a course page and the button in the top right corner of the page reads “Enroll (Waiting List)”, this means the course has reached the maximum number of participants able to enroll. You can click the button to join the waitlist for the course and you will be notified if a spot becomes available.

How do I select the right course format?

When browsing the course catalog, you will see multiple versions of the same course available. All courses are available in English, French, and Spanish so first select the right language for you. You can do this by selecting the language of your choice in the left-hand filter in the course catalog or choosing the course that denotes the correct language (EN=English, FR=French, ES=Spanish).

You also have the option to choose the format that will work best for your connection type. All courses have 3 format options: high bandwidth, low bandwidth, and text-based for all connections. You can filter by bandwidth option in the left-hand filter on the course catalog or select the “Additional Information” tab when viewing a course to see which bandwidth connection you have selected.

If you have any questions about which version is best for you, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] to get assistance.

When do I start?

This course lasts six weeks. The registration period opens three weeks prior to the course start date.

Enroll Now

20 January–02 March 2025

Course duration

14 July–24 August 2025

Course duration

06 October–16 November 2025

Course duration

Moderated course

Duration:
6 weeks

Available in
English, French and Spanish