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Comment by reqo | Hacker News Reader

Unrelated. How hard is it to create another “internet” which is completely detached from the current internet?

The answer ranges from "basically impossible" to "trivial" depending on what layer of the OSI model you think the "current internet" exists on.

Another answer might be - you do this every time your local network disconnects from the big internet. How do you like your little internet ?

How long is a rope?

There is already a bunch of "completely detached" networks out there, organized via wifi links. Freifunk, Guifi and NYC Mesh are three examples of such networks, where you can basically avoid the current internet infrastructure as long as you get hooked up to the mesh network. Lots of interesting services deployed on these networks too :)

I've read about the NYC mesh in the past, I don't remember it being disconnected from the wider internet?

Usually the meshes have parts of the network that is connected to the internet, and you either automatically get access to those nodes so you can route via them, or you can request access to be able to reach the wider network.

Really depends on the mesh, I don't know the specific answer for NYC mesh.

I think Project Gemini fits this description: https://geminiprotocol.net/

> How hard is it to create another “internet” which is completely detached from the current internet?

Seems like a good way to explain the meaning "network effect".

Well FB has lost $20bn and counting on Horizon Worlds and other "new internet" projects. Before building anew, it's important to consider how many people want to leave the current one.

Sounds like an "Ask HN" to me.

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