About
Kick-off meeting – November 2025, ITU Headquarters, Geneva.
SetGMI project
SetGMDI is a 12-month COST Innovators Grant project establishing the foundations of the Global Microwave Link Data Collection Initiative (GMDI). The project brings together researchers, national meteorological services, mobile network operators, hardware vendors, and international organisations to enable governed scalable access to commercial microwave link data for rainfall monitoring and related hydrometeorological applications. The SetGMDI project will deliver:
- A first version of a central data–collection, archiving, and processing system (GMDI-CAP)
- Legal and organisational templates for governed scalable data access
- Pilot implementations with multiple mobile network operators
- A roadmap and business models for long-term sustainability and scaling of GMDI
- A trusted community of operators, meteorological services, researchers, and international partners committed to the long-term development of GMDI
Why Commercial Microwave Links?
Commercial microwave links (CMLs), part of mobile telecommunication networks worldwide, can be used as opportunistic sensors to estimate rainfall. Signal attenuation caused by precipitation provides valuable near-surface rainfall information, especially in regions where conventional observation networks are sparse. With millions of microwave links deployed globally, even partial data access can significantly enhance rainfall monitoring. For flood early warning, water management or climate studies.
SetGMDI concept
Strong public
mission
Rainfall data saves lives. Better access to rainfall observations improves flood early warning, water management, and climate monitoring, particularly in regions where conventional weather networks are sparse or absent.
Synergies between stakeholders
Telecom operators, meteorological services, researchers, hardware vendors, and international organisations each bring something essential. GMDI is designed so that every participant contributes what they do best and benefits from what others bring.
Inclusive by design
GMDI is open to mobile network operators of all sizes, in all regions. Pilot studies in Europe and Africa demonstrate that the initiative is built for global scale from the outset, not retrofitted for it later.
MNOs retain control over their data
Raw network data remains the property of the operator at all times. GMDI provides the legal templates, technical infrastructure, and governance framework that allow operators to share data on their own terms, with full transparency over how it is used.
Sustainable and scalable funding model
Scientific projects end. GMDI is designed not to. The initiative develops business and collaboration models that give operators, data users, and service providers long-term incentives to participate — moving from grant-funded pilot to self-sustaining infrastructure.
GMDI-CAP system
At the core of GMDI will be the data collection and processing (CAP) system which provides a scalable central solution for handling CML data from a large number of data providers. Learn more about
Pilot studies
The SetGMDI pilot studies are designed to put the GMDI-CAP system through its paces across diverse mobile networks and operational settings — validating both the technology and the organizational framework needed to make GMDI work at scale.
From SetGMDI to GMDI
SetGMDI is the first step. Building on two decades of research and standardization and networking activities of the OpenSense community, the project’s ultimate goal is to establish GMDI as a permanent, internationally recognised infrastructure, a trusted platform where telecom operators, meteorological services, and the broader hydrometeorological community collaborate on equal footing. If SetGMDI lays the foundations, GMDI builds the house.
We are looking for partners who share this vision. Whether you operate a microwave network, work in flood forecasting, develop network hardware, or set international standards, there is a role for you in GMDI. Get in touch with us!