Raspberry Pi hotspots are not included in our resilience portfolio but is shown as an enhancement to regular comms provision, they can be deployed anywhere an internet connection is available, whilst they do not have direct sim capability for mobile phone networks, they can be tethered to mobile phones for internet connectivity or piggybacked on any available WiFi network.
In the case of our South Wales D-star Network they can provide a connection (within around 100yds walk away from the device) for a two-way digital radio to access wide area comms whilst also able to access a global network at the tap of a few radio keys.
The flexibility of this facility for our local use can enable cross digital communications of different protocols to break into our wider area comms network.
The simplicity of this is wherever WiFi exists two-way radio will work.
The other beauty is the low power required to run a R-Pi. 5 volts from a power-bank can mean days of access, one of these is run from a group members motorhome allowing constant comms from the onboard WiFi that can be used via extremely low power on the mobile radio in the vehicle able to talk back to the local area from anywhere in the world where WiFi is accessible.
Who knows with Starlink now available is there going to be anywhere it won’t work.