But the technology is there and it is already very advanced. For example, soldiers in war zones use the technology to set up an 'ad hoc' network in areas where no networks are available. The 'swarm' of soldiers then forms a mobile network: each phone loops the signal to other phones.
Research laboratories are working on very small mobile sensors, no bigger than a grain of sand. A handful of these sensors could be blown out like a cloud of dust over an area to take measurements, for example on air quality. This 'smart dust' would also be an ideal means of espionage. The American defense is following the developments with interest.
This technology is very similar to peer-to-peer software such as KaZaa and Bittorrent. Every user automatically shares a piece of his computer files with others. He is a downloader and uploader, or receiver and transmitter. This creates a distribution network with a large bandwidth without central control. The music and entertainment industries that were used to having control over the means of distribution were sidelined. The 'personal hotspot' function on smartphones can also have such an impact. Are KPN, Vodafone and T-Mobile sidelined?
HotspotMobile internet providers were initially not happy with the 'hotspot' canada telegram data function on smartphones: after all, the smartphone's mobile internet subscription also allowed surfing on the laptop.
In the meantime (since April this year) all the largest providers allow tethering. Simply because many customers asked for it. Moreover, the market conditions have changed. The use of mobile internet has grown explosively, thanks to smartphones and tablets. To keep up with the growth, major investments are needed in a stable network.