MAJINET

Inspiration

In many African communities, lack of internet access, electricity, and telecom infrastructure causes critical communication breakdowns especially during natural disasters or health outbreaks. Inspired by the need for resilience and accessibility, we built MajiNet to give voice and alert systems to the forgotten, using open-source hardware, solar energy, and offline mesh networking.

What it does

MajiNet allows villages to send and receive voice/text messages, weather warnings, and health alerts without any internet or SIM card. It operates entirely offline, powered by the sun, and works with basic phones using mesh nodes that communicate up to 10 km apart. Each node serves as a local hub to relay alerts across the network, creating a self-healing communication grid.

How we built it

We used ESP32 microcontrollers, LoRa SX1278 modules, HC-12 for backup RF, solar panels, and LiFePO₄ batteries. Firmware was developed with Arduino IDE, and communication protocols were built using LoRa mesh libraries. We designed the hardware to be modular, low-cost, and field-deployable. All nodes were enclosed in weatherproof cases, and AI scripts were used to trigger alerts from sensors.

Challenges we ran into

Power management during long rainy days Synchronizing mesh data in highly distributed networks Achieving compatibility with basic phones Ensuring easy deployment by local, non-technical youth Handling multilingual support in alerts

Accomplishments that we're proud of

A fully working offline mesh prototype tested across 3 villages AI-powered weather and flood detection Offline voice message support using microcontroller and basic speaker Entire setup running continuously on solar for 8 days without charging Engaging and training locals to maintain and use the system

What we learned

What's next for MAJINET

Adding multilingual voice-to-text capabilities Integrating GSM fallback when signal is available Partnering with health NGOs for real-world deployments Expanding into conflict zones and post-disaster response areas Launching a simplified version for schools and local governance