# Networks

## **Your Routers, Your Network.**

At Uplink, **you always own and control your routers and data.**

When you connect a router to Uplink, you're simply:\
✅ **Connecting your phone to your own Wi-Fi network** (if it isn’t already)\
✅ **Validating that your network is online**

### **What Does "Validating My Network" Mean?**

Validation is just a **simple check** to confirm that your phone is connected to the internet. **Uplink will never access your data or control your router.**

### **Router Info Collected During&#x20;**<mark style="background-color:blue;">**Router Registration**</mark>**:**

During the r**outer registration** process, we automatically collect **basic network details** to ensure a smooth onboarding process once the Uplink network is live. This is managed by you (a router can be deleted at any time) on the Uplink Platform.

**The following info is what we collect and why:**

<table><thead><tr><th width="153">Name</th><th>Description &#x26; Use</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Wi-Fi SSID</strong></td><td>The name of your Wi-Fi network. It's what you see when you select a network to connect to and register.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Mac Address</strong></td><td>This helps to confirm that your router is real and can be used when the Uplink network goes live. </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Manufacturer</strong></td><td>The company that produced your router. This helps us determine the demographics of routers on the network.</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Model</strong></td><td>This helps us determine the necessary software for your specific router and allows us to prioritize solutions that matter most to our community. </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Location</strong></td><td>This (a specific longitude/latitude) shows us where you intend to provide connectivity when the network is live. </td></tr><tr><td><strong>Venue Info</strong></td><td>Coverage (indoor/outdoor) and type (residential, commercial, hospital, public, etc.). This helps us understand your area and determine if it's an area of high traffic or interest.</td></tr></tbody></table>

**Your hardware, your data, your rewards.** 🚀

### Up Next: [Surge](/surge.md)


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