Diseño e implementación de una red inalámbrica mesh alimentada con energía solar para proporcionar acceso a internet en la comunidad rural “normita” del cantón La Troncal.

Abstract

The main objective of this thesis is to design and implement a functional prototype of a mesh-type wireless network powered by solar energy, applied to the rural community of “Normita” in the La Troncal canton, using an Action Research approach. The development of the project emcompassed all stages, from the diagnosis of connectivity needs to the installation and evaluation of the system, following a cycle of diagnosis, planning, action, and evaluation. Field data were collected through surveys, which confirmed the presence of a significant digital divide and a high demand for Internet access within the community. Based on these initial findings, a network architecture was designed with a redundant backbone (mesh) and a hybrid power system (electric grid and solar). This system was implemented and tested in real-world conditions. The technical tests demonstrated stability, high transmission capacity, and automatic switching in case of failures. Moreover, the satisfaction survey conducted after implementation revealed a positive user perception regarding the usefulness and the service quality. The results indicate that the prototype represents a technically feasible and socially relevant solution that helps reduce the digital divide in rural environments. Likewise, it establishes the foundation for future expansion and could be replicated in other communities with similar conditions, contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 4 and 9) related to quality education, innovation, and sustainable infrastructure.