Othernet

Othernet Inc
Company type	Private
Industry	Satellite data services, Broadcast data
Founded	2014
Founder	Saša Vučinić, Stuart Auerbach (Media Development Investment Fund founders as early supporters)
Headquarters	United States
Products	Compact satellite data receiver (Dreamcatcher, previously Lantern)

Othernet Inc specializes in broadcast data services, providing a compact satellite data receiver that combines an amplifier, radio, and CPU within a single unit.

The organization aims to enable worldwide access to news, educational materials, and information by distributing complimentary web content through geostationary and low Earth orbit satellites. It currently employs datacasting technology via traditional geostationary communication satellites arranged in a satellite constellation. The transmitted data is accessible on Wi-Fi-enabled devices through satellite hotspot connections.

Initially known as Outernet, the company underwent a rebranding to Othernet in July 2018 due to trademark conflicts. Its early financial backing originated from the Media Development Investment Fund, a US-based impact investment entity established by Saša Vučinić and Stuart Auerbach. In 2015, Othernet conducted an IndieGogo fundraising campaign that amassed $697,552 for the development of the Lantern receiver; however, this product was never finalized or delivered to supporters.

History

The first public broadcast from Othernet was initiated on 11 August 2014, delivering 20 Mbits daily via the L-band frequency. Initial transmissions served regions including North America, Europe, and portions of the Middle East and North Africa using Galaxy 19 and Hot Bird satellites. Users were encouraged to assemble their own receivers and provide feedback on their experience.

On 1 October 2014, Othernet revamped its website and launched Whiteboard, a platform for users to suggest URLs for broadcast inclusion. Content selection was based on user voting and categorized into three segments: the Queue, Sponsored Content, and the Core Archive. Additional content requests were accepted through Othernet’s Facebook page with intentions to broaden submission avenues. The broadcasted material remained publicly accessible at all times.

Early programming featured international and regional news updates, agricultural commodity prices for farmers, educational resources such as Teachers Without Borders, emergency communication tools including disaster relief information, software distributions like Ubuntu, along with movies, music, games, and the entire Wikipedia database.

A proposal to evaluate Othernet’s technology aboard the International Space Station was rejected by NASA in June 2014 due to budget considerations and estimated expenses ranging from $150,000 to $175,000. CASIS referenced a low likelihood of mission success under the proposed conditions.

Signal reception

Formerly known as "Lantern" (previously Pillar), Othernet created a standalone, solar-powered data receiver combined with media storage that establishes a wireless hotspot for Wi-Fi-enabled devices to access content. Its main objective is to offer free access to media archives, weather updates, news, and other resources in high-traffic public venues such as educational institutions.

Users also had the option to construct their own receivers utilizing components like an L-band antenna, low-noise amplifier, and DVB-T dongle equipped with RTL-SDR drivers. Data was saved on user devices running Othernet’s decoding software and accessed through Wi-Fi hotspots. Although the L-band signal service has been discontinued, the hardware remains capable of receiving other L-band INMARSAT transmissions.

The current iteration of the system, known as Dreamcatcher and succeeding Lantern, operates on the Ku-band frequency using an LNB connected to a LoRa circuit on an ARM-based receiver board. It downloads refreshed content from satellites at a rate of 20 kbit/s, maintaining an updated cache accessible via Wi-Fi and viewable through standard web browsers without requiring specialized applications. Ku-band coverage extends over North America via SES-2 at 87° West and Europe via Astra 3B at 23.5° East geostationary orbital positions.

Availability

The Othernet initiative is actively seeking funds to broaden its reach worldwide, focusing on underserved regions and communities without reliable Internet connectivity. While the original fundraising target was set at US$200,000, by June 8, 2015, contributions had exceeded expectations, totaling $628,305.

Purpose

Othernet’s mission is to deliver uncensored content for educational purposes and emergency situations. This includes providing access to news, civic information, market prices, weather forecasts, and open-source designs for agricultural machinery. The platform also supplies educational materials such as textbooks, instructional videos, and software applications, maintaining functionality even when conventional Internet service is inaccessible.

Media coverage

Reactions from the media toward Othernet have been mixed, ranging from optimistic support to critical scrutiny. CNN featured a segment emphasizing the project’s promising potential while acknowledging concerns about financial viability and practical implementation. Publications like the Washington Post and NBC have examined Othernet in the context of similar initiatives like Google's Project Loon and Facebook's Internet.org.

There is ongoing discussion regarding possible opposition from established telecommunications firms to space-based dissemination of freely available Internet resources. Furthermore, a BBC News article covering founder Syed Karim’s presentation at TEDGlobal highlighted the challenge illiteracy poses to adoption in rural areas.

External links