theGrid is an open, federated communications network that is based on the Matrix protocol. In the early days of the internet, online communication was open and free (free as in freedom), and most protocols allowed anyone to participate as a consumer, and as a provider. If you think about email for instance, you can open an account with Google (gmail), Microsoft (hotmail) or one of countless other providers, or alternatively, you can easily run your own email server. No one corporation or interest group owns the network, and therefore cannot deny your right to utilise it.

But today we've come to a detrimental situation where communication networks are closed and controlled. They are owned by corporations who monetise our data and even restrict us from utilising the networks if we don't share their views. Enter theGrid, an open and free network that is federated, much like email, meaning that multiple different providers are available for you as a consumer of the network to choose from. If you don't like a provider, switch to another, if you don't like any of them, or want full control of your data, then become your own provider.

theGrid is a set of standardised extensions on top of the Matrix protocol. Matrix defines a basic set of primitives to use for communication, based around the concept of a room (communications channel), theGrid builds on top of these primitives to deliver useful and familiar communications paradigms like instant messaging, feed posts, organised data storage, device monitoring & control and contact management.