This is a four-part series explores the how Western “hackers” are building low-cost communications networks to bring phone and Web service to displaced Tibetan refugees — and how native peoples are trying to hold onto their culture in an interconnected world.

But why hackers are building low cost communications networks?
Tibet is situated between the two ancient civilizations of China and India. This is a remote region phone lines and others stuff is not good. Mostly they are depends upon VSAT connectivity provided by Government of India. But these days they use Himalayan-Mesh-Router

Few years back my brother was working for them. He had developed a tibetan language email service in Dharamshala.

Read four-part series @ npr.org (via)