Rhizomatica and the HERMES System: A New Era of Communication for Remote Areas

Peter Bloom – founder of Rhizomatica, a non-profit organization that develops communication infrastructure for remote, indigenous, and unconnected communities worldwide. His team introduced the High-frequency Emergency and Rural Multimedia Exchange System (HERMES), operating in the high-frequency (HF) range from 3 to 30 megahertz. HERMES enables the transmission of files such as photos and emails via shortwaves. According to Bloom, “We use small radio stations that output about 20 watts of power, and we can reliably establish connections over distances of 400–600 kilometers between two radio stations.” This is relevant for places that are difficult to reach and where establishing ground infrastructure is not feasible. The system operates as a software stack – a set of different programs that allow data to be sent via HF, whether it's a photo, an email, or a voice message.

The main goal of HERMES – is to provide the ability to transmit data in emergency situations. People can send their coordinates and distress signals, as well as important information like descriptions or inventory lists, instead of trying to convey this by voice. Bloom notes that in medicine, resource accounting, or when it's necessary to provide evidence of illegal logging, data is transmitted much more easily than by voice message.

Rhizomatica is using HERMES in a pilot project with artisanal fishermen in Bangladesh. HERMES systems are installed on 10 or 11 boats. Shortly after installation, one of the boats encountered a mechanical problem in the Bay of Bengal, 100–200 kilometers from shore. The crew was able to send their GPS location and a distress signal, which allowed for the coordination of the rescue of the crew and the vessel. Bloom emphasizes that the use of encryption in the system – is an optional element. Encryption regulations for amateur radio vary in each country. Encryption was built into the system because some Rhizomatica partners operate in very sensitive areas and do not want information to be easily intercepted and used against them.