Hurricane Helene made landfall in late September 2024, leaving a trail of widespread destruction in its wake. The historic storm unleashed heavy rainfall and high winds, causing severe flooding, downing power and cell towers, and severing internet cables across North Carolina and neighboring states. Rural mountain communities in Western North Carolina were particularly hard-hit, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents unable to contact friends, family, or first responders. Relief efforts, including the delivery of food and clean water, were slowed by intermittent communications, washed-out bridges, and submerged roads.
Rapid-Deploy Hubs: Reliable Connectivity Where It’s Needed Most
In the aftermath of Helene, nearly a dozen tech companies and the Information Technology Disaster Resource Center (ITDRC) came together to form Operation Connect Carolina. The non-profit organization builds and activates Rapid-Deploy Connectivity Hubs, delivering reliable, high-speed internet to hurricane survivors, medical staff, and disaster relief workers.
Powered by solar panels and battery banks, each fully mobile hub operates 24/7 and can connect 10,000 families via Starlink satellite links. The hubs consist of base stations and outdoor 5G radios provided by Celestic and MosoLabs, with Cumucore, RiPSIM Technologies, and Kymeta Corporation supplying 5G cores, provisioned SIMs, and advanced satellite equipment.
Figure 1: An outdoor MosoLabs Canopy 5GOD1 radio shown next to a Starlink satellite dish before deployment to Western North Carolina. (Image Credit: Operation Connect Carolina)
“The Moso Canopy 5GOD1 radios base station included in each mobile hub covers approximately two kilometers,” explains Stephen Leotis, President and Co-Founder of MosoLabs. “Volunteers can easily mount the radios on existing poles or even in trees if poles aren’t available. Once secured, the remotely managed system is fully operational within minutes and delivering cellular service where it‘s needed.
Private 5G Networks: A Scalable Solution for Rural Coverage
Even before Hurricane Helene, reliable, high-speed internet and cellular connectivity in rural Western North Carolina was limited. Many households and businesses still lack access to broadband cable, fiber optic, or digital subscriber lines, relying instead on costly private satellite internet or outdated phone-based services. Without stable connectivity, residents can struggle to access online banking, remote education platforms and coursework, telemedicine applications, and essential food shopping services.
Aaron Huslage, CEO of Celestic, highlighted, “Operation Connect Carolina is providing Internet access in a critical time of need for the people of Western North Carolina. We believe that connectivity is not an optional thing anymore and disasters really bring home how important it is. We are happy to help the people of the region get connected to the resources they need.”
These private cellular networks deployed by Operation Connect Carolina serve as a potential model for local wireless internet service providers (WISPs) aiming to efficiently and affordably expand connectivity and coverage in remote rural areas.
Figure 2: Operation Connect Carolina volunteer Loy Curtis Smith tests a Rapid-Deploy Connectivity Hub, ensuring it is ready to deliver reliable, high-speed connectivity to communities affected by Hurricane Helene. (Image Credit: Operation Connect Carolina)
“Private cellular networks deliver secure, reliable, and high-speed connectivity for a wide range of use cases worldwide,” adds Leotis. “We’re proud to be part of this Operation Connect Carolina effort and expect these emergency mobile hub systems will benefit communities in need in the future to keep people connected.”
Supporting Operation Connect Carolina
Operation Connect Carolina is delivering life-changing connectivity to the communities that need it most. Every $5,000 funds one complete Rapid-Deploy Connectivity Hub, with the organization aiming to deploy at least 50 systems across affected regions. Learn more about donating or volunteering at https://www.connectcarolina.org.
