Security BSides Las Vegas 2025

Can You Hear Me Now? A Survey of Communications Platforms During Emergencies
2025-08-04 , Copa

In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate during emergencies—especially when traditional infrastructure fails—is critical. This presentation explores a range of communication options available to private citizens, focusing on both licensed and unlicensed technologies. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of tools such as Family Radio Service (FRS), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Citizens Band (CB), and Amateur Radio (licensed), as well as unlicensed digital solutions like Wi-Fi mesh networks and LoRa (Long Range) technology.


In an increasingly interconnected world, the ability to communicate during emergencies—especially when traditional infrastructure fails—is critical. This presentation explores a range of communication options available to private citizens, focusing on both licensed and unlicensed technologies. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of tools such as Family Radio Service (FRS), General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS), Citizens Band (CB), and Amateur Radio (licensed), as well as unlicensed digital solutions like Wi-Fi mesh networks and LoRa (Long Range) technology.

Special attention will be given to LoRa, a low-power, long-range wireless protocol that enables decentralized, peer-to-peer communication without reliance on cellular or internet infrastructure. The session will compare the capabilities, legal considerations, range, and use cases of each option, with an emphasis on emergency preparedness, community resilience, and ease of deployment.

By the end of the presentation, participants will be equipped with actionable knowledge to select affordable communication tools for their needs, ensuring they remain connected when it matters most.

Slava is an experienced engineering leader with roots in SRE, DevOps, and Software Engineering.