Kiezbox 2.0
What will the resilient city of tomorrow look like? The model project Kiezbox 2.0 shows this. With an alternative, power-autonomous communication network, the project aims to maintain critical communication infrastructure in the event of a crisis - and thus strengthen the resilience of the smart city.Kiezbox 2.0 is a pilot measure of the Gemeinsam Digital: Berlin strategy.
What is the Kiezbox 2.0?
The Kiezbox 2.0 is a pilot measure within the strategy Gemeinsam Digital: Berlin and demonstrates in prototype form how an alternative, energy self-sufficient communication network for crisis situations can be designed.
In times of extreme weather events, politically motivated attacks and increasing civil protection demands, the project tests blackout scenarios in order to derive practical recommendations for a crisis-resilient city.
What would cease to function in the event of a crisis? If a severe storm were to bring down trees, damage power lines and injure people who can neither be warned nor supplied? In the case of a prolonged power outage, mobile networks and other electricity-based communication systems would no longer function reliably. Access to critical infrastructure such as emergency calls and crisis communication must, however, be ensured precisely in such extreme situations.
Kiezbox 2.0 provides, among other things, an emergency WiFi network through which residents can send text-based emergency messages to the fire brigade or access crisis-relevant information via low-bandwidth websites. During regular operation, the boxes collect environmental data that can be used by the urban community and other municipal actors.
How does the Kiezbox 2.0 work?
Kiezbox 2.0 is based on the concept of a hyperlocal network and two core scenarios.
- During regular operation, the Kiezboxes carry out local measurements using various sensors, for example air quality. In this way, relevant data for the Smart City are collected. At the same time, the functionality of the boxes is monitored to ensure readiness for crisis situations.
- In the event of a crisis, for example a power outage, the Kiezboxes function as hotspots for an emergency WiFi network. This provides the population with behavioural guidance and a communication channel to emergency services.
The Kiezbox consists of the following key components:
- At its core, the system includes a Banana Pi computer, WiFi communication modules and the energy-efficient radio technology LoRa for transmitting sensor data.
- Additional sensors enable measurements during regular operation, for example temperature, humidity or noise levels, ensuring continuous environmental monitoring.
- All internal components are integrated in a space-saving, rugged and outdoor-capable housing that can be mounted on roofs.
- All internal components are integrated into a compact, weather-resistant outdoor housing that can be installed on rooftops. An external solar panel ensures that the battery inside the housing remains charged. External antennas optimise transmission range.
What's next for the Kiezbox 2.0?
Since its official launch in February 2023, the Kiezbox 2.0 team has been testing a range of use cases.
During the kick-off workshop for the development phase of Gemeinsam Digital: Berlin, it was emphasised that access to relevant neighbourhood information should not only be guaranteed in crisis situations but also in everyday life. Surveys conducted among visitors at events such as Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften 2024 and Smart Country Convention 2024 showed that environmental data with direct health relevance are of particular interest to the public. Based on these findings, a flexible sensor module is currently being developed for deployment in urban space. It will provide air quality and noise data via the Kiezbox’s LoRa mesh network.
Kiezbox crisis exercise: blackout scenarios on Grunewaldstraße
How does a Kiezbox perform under real emergency conditions? To answer this question, a blackout was simulated in June 2025 directly in front of Technologiestiftung Berlin on Grunewaldstraße. The objective of the exercise was to test the technical robustness and user experience of the Kiezbox prototypes under realistic conditions.
A team of statisticians enacted three independent crisis scenarios, including a prolonged power outage and the failure of conventional communication channels. At the same time, the functionality of the digital Kiezbox portal was tested.
The exercise was accompanied by the Berlin Fire Brigade, which supported the scenario with emergency vehicles and realistic staging. All scenarios were streamed live to the Audimax of Technologiestiftung Berlin. Moderated by Julia Zimmermann, representatives from the Berlin Police, the Fire Brigade, the District Office of Tempelhof Schöneberg and various Senate departments were able to observe the exercise and gain a concrete understanding of the deployment potential of the Kiezbox.
The exercise generated valuable insights for further development of the prototype, particularly with regard to user guidance, system stability and crisis deployment.
With the successful completion of the crisis exercise, the feasibility assessment of the Kiezbox has concluded. The next step is to identify suitable deployment scenarios in regular operation and prepare further implementation steps.
Current information and updates are available online.
Status: August 2025
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