Wifi Dabba, a decentralized internet service provider, recently announced plans to expand internet connectivity in India by distributing over 100,000 devices across the country.
These devices, hosted on the Solana blockchain, are part of the DePIN project, which aims to connect the unconnected by the end of the year. Only 30 million people in India, a country of more than 1.4 billion inhabitants, have access to WiFi, while a large part of the population is still without internet.
The company’s strategy focuses on decentralization to counter the limited reach of major Indian telecom companies, which mainly serve urban areas. Karam Lakshman, CEO of Wifi Dabba, criticized the slow pace of current connectivity efforts. He thinks achieving national coverage could take decades. He emphasized the importance of widespread internet access to support India’s position as the second-largest crypto holder and the fifth-largest global economy.
In a statement, Lakshman advocated the role of blockchain technology in providing reliable internet access, with device maintenance managed by third-party providers. He sees the DePIN model as a scalable solution for improving internet connectivity in developing countries.
The project plans to use India as a testing ground for global applications.
To expand its network, Wifi Dabba plans to partner with local cable operators (LCOs) in India and leverage their reach across communities. This partnership aims to promote growth and market leadership in decentralized wireless and WiFi networks, as noted by Arul Murugan, Managing Partner at Borderless Capital, one of the project’s key investors.
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The project encourages hotspot owners to get involved by purchasing Wifi Dabba’s router hardware and working with local cable operators for implementation. The company will also offer Dabba tokens as a reward for data usage.
The campaign will mainly target areas with high demand for paid WiFi connectivity for the installation of these devices.
Dawn Philip, head of communications at Wifi Dabba, predicts a “significant increase” in DePIN use by 2024, especially in developing countries. He echoed Lakhsman’s sentiments and highlighted the opportunities in regions where infrastructure development is critical.
The recent development coincides with a wider adoption of blockchain technology across industries in India. In February 2024, STAN, an Indian eSports startup, announced a partnership with blockchain platform Aptos Labs. STAN wants to build an esports fan platform on top of the Aptos blockchain. Gamers in India can interact with their favorite creators on the platform.
Meanwhile, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) recently launched non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as tickets. Passengers on the Tejas Express trains (train numbers 82501 and 82502) can collect these limited NFTs during their travels from March 20 to April 2.
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