The idea for goTenna came about after Hurricane Sandy knocked out 25 percent of cell towers, and caused outages for 25 percent of Internet services, across 10 states on the East Coast.[2][3] Officially incorporated in April 2013,[4] the company's stated goal is to build "people-powered peer-to-peer communication systems" reducing our reliance on cell towers and wifi routers, and providing anyone the ability to create a network on their terms.[5] In 2014, goTenna rolled out its first consumer product, the goTenna, a pocket-size communication tool that lets off-grid travelers talk to one another without cell service.[6]
In September 2016, goTenna launched goTenna Plus, a, subscription-based upgrade to the goTenna applications, which includes the capability to use other goTenna users as gateways to relay messages through to traditional SMS networks.[7] The company also released its software development kit, enabling developers to create new applications using goTenna hardware.[8] However, its license does not permit use with open source copyleft licenses.[9] Around the same time, goTenna unveiled a second-generation device: goTenna Mesh, the first consumer-ready mesh network of its kind, available to 49 countries.[10]
In 2022, goTenna secured a $22.3M funded, $24.9M ceiling SBIR Phase III contract with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to support the deployment of hardware, training, as well as development to expand the Agent Visualization Program (AVP), a program designed to improve the safety and effectiveness of law enforcement officers by providing comprehensive situational awareness in the border enforcement zone.[13]
In February of 2023, goTenna was awarded a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II contract to provide mission-critical communication network monitoring and analysis platform for the United States Air Force (USAF).[14]
