RuralNet began in 2005 as a research project of the Technical University of Valencia in Spain. The project intended to develop new information and communication technology to offer low-bandwidth Internet access to isolated rural areas. With this purpose we developed RuralNet, an experimental wireless platform which combines the promising paradigm of wireless Mesh networks and cheap off-the-shelf wireless devices to offer a wide range of Internet-based communication services and applications. RuralNet has targeted rural areas of the Comunidad Valenciana, in Spain, with increasing demand for Internet connectivity to support the emerging industrial activity and population demands. To date, we deploy the proposed system in a small-scale project on a rural area located on the south of the Comunidad Valenciana which encompasses about 50 subscribers including local industry and villagers.

The general purpose of RuralNet is to strengthen Internet support in rural environments through wireless technologies. The system should empower mobile users with the ability to access Internet applications on the move. Rather than creating a new wireless technology, the major challenge has been to demonstrate the practicality of designing and building a system that, by combing existing wireless networks paradigms, is able to reach distant areas at a low cost, while offering a wide range of telecommunication services and applications.