A Low-Power Low-Throughput Communications Solution for At-Risk Populations in Resource Constrained Contested Environments

In resource‑constrained contested environments (RCCEs), communications are routinely censored, surveilled, or disrupted by nation‑state adversaries, leaving at‑risk populations—including protesters, dissidents, disaster‑affected communities, and military units—without secure connectivity. This dissertation introduces MeshBLanket, a Bluetooth Mesh‑based framework designed for low‑power, low‑throughput messaging with minimal electromagnetic spectrum exposure. Built on commercial off‑the‑shelf hardware, MeshBLanket extends the Bluetooth Mesh specification with automated provisioning and network‑wide key refresh to enhance scalability and resilience.

We evaluated MeshBLanket through field experimentation (range, throughput, battery life, and security enhancements) and qualitative interviews with ten senior U.S. Army communications experts. Thematic analysis revealed priorities of availability, EMS footprint reduction, and simplicity of use, alongside adoption challenges and institutional skepticism. Results demonstrate that MeshBLanket maintains secure messaging under load, supports autonomous key refresh, and offers operational relevance at the forward edge of battlefields.

Beyond military contexts, parallels with protest environments highlight MeshBLanket’s broader applicability for civilian populations facing censorship and surveillance. By unifying technical experimentation with expert perspectives, this work contributes a proof‑of‑concept communications architecture that advances secure, resilient, and user‑centric connectivity in environments where traditional infrastructure is compromised or weaponized.