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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 disconnected before the end of the year. Only 30 million people in India, a country of more than 1.4 billion people, have access to WiFi, while a large part of the population still does not have access to the Internet. technology/tech-news/india-has-over-800-mn-internet-users-most-use-tech-for-ott-services-study-124022700460_1.html” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>separate from Internet.
From the company strategy focuses on decentralization to combat the limited reach of India's major telecom corporations, which primarily serve urban areas. Karam Lakshman, CEO of Wifi Dabba, criticized the slow pace of current connectivity efforts. He believes achieving nationwide coverage could take decades. He highlighted the importance of widespread Internet access to support India. position as the second largest holder of cryptocurrencies and the fifth largest economy in the world.
in a statement, Lakshman advocated for the role of blockchain technology in providing reliable access to the Internet, with device maintenance managed by third-party providers. He sees the DePIN model as a scalable solution to improve 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 collaborate with local cable operators (LCOs) in India, leveraging their reach within communities. This partnership aims to foster growth and market leadership in decentralized WiFi and wireless networks, as noted by Arul Murugan, managing partner at Borderless Capital, one of the project's lead investors.
The project urges hotspot owners to join in by purchasing Dabba Wifi router hardware and partnering with local cable operators for deployment. The company will also offer Dabba tokens as a reward for data usage.
The campaign will mainly target areas with significant demand for paid WiFi connectivity for the installation of these devices.
Wifi Dabba head of communications Dawn Philip predicts a “significant increase” in DePIN usage in 2024, especially in developing countries. She echoed Lakhsman's sentiments and highlighted opportunities in regions where infrastructure development is critically needed.
The recent development coincides with wider adoption of blockchain technology in various sectors in India. In February 2024, STAN, an Indian esports startup, announced a partnership with blockchain platform Aptos Labs. STAN aims to build a platform for esports fans on top of the Aptos blockchain. Indian gamers will be able to 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 of Tejas Express trains (train numbers 82501 and 82502) will be able to collect these limited NFTs during their journeys from March 20 to April 2.
