Inspiration
I’m a computer science undergraduate living in a city in Pakistan, and I often face internet issues — especially during online classes. My friend, who comes from a rural village, has it even worse: sometimes there’s no signal at all. We realized we weren’t alone — many people across Pakistan silently suffer from poor or no internet access, but there’s no system to report it, and no visibility for ISPs or government.
That’s what inspired us to build this project.
We wanted to give a voice to rural users by creating a simple way to report internet issues. By collecting this real-time data and showing it on a map, we’re making the invisible problem visible — and that’s the first step toward a real solution.
What it does
This project allows users to report internet issues in rural areas through a simple web form. Each report includes the village name, internet status (Good, Weak, No Internet), and optional comments. Submitted data is saved in Google Sheets and visualized on a map with color-coded markers. The collected data helps identify underserved regions and can be used by ISPs and authorities to improve internet access.
How we built it
We used HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build the web interface. User data is collected through a simple form and sent to Google Sheets using Google Apps Script. We used Leaflet.js to show the villages on a map with colored markers based on internet status.
Challenges we ran into
One of the biggest challenges was connecting the frontend form to Google Sheets without using a backend server. We had to learn how to use Google Apps Script to handle form submissions securely. Another challenge was displaying the data on a live map using JavaScript and Leaflet, especially filtering markers by internet status. It took time to make the map work smoothly and show the right information.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
One of our biggest accomplishments is creating a simple but powerful system that allows villagers or volunteers to report internet issues in just a few seconds. This real-time reporting can help ISPs and government authorities identify exactly where connectivity is poor, so they can take action faster. We're proud that we achieved this using only HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Google Sheets integration, without any heavy backend setup.
What we learned
I personally learned how to connect a frontend form to Google Sheets and store real-time user data without needing a backend database. I also improved my understanding of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and learned how to build a simple user interface that anyone can use — even in rural areas with limited tech exposure.
What's next for Rural Internet
We plan to expand this platform by: Adding maps with real-time filters to visualize problem areas. Notifying ISPs or local authorities with collected reports. Allowing users to upload photos or speed test results for better data.
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