DePINs to decentralize internet access and connectivity in India

Internet connectivity in the world's most populous country is set to become even more decentralized thanks to the creation of the new Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN).

On March 15, Internet service provider Wi-Fi Dabba said it would deploy more than 100,000 of its devices — all deployed on DPin Solana — by the end of the year to “connect the unconnected” for users across India.

According to Wi-Fi Dabba, India has a population of 1.43 billion and broadband penetration is low. Only 30 million citizens have regular WiFi access and less than 50% have no access at all.

This upcoming distribution period will be the second time the company has released devices connected to DPin, reporting monthly consumption of 90-100 terabytes on top of previously sold devices.

Wi-Fi Dabba said users who own router hardware can earn Wi-Fi Dabba Tokens as rewards for data used by hotspot users.

Cointelegraph spoke with Wifi Dabba officials to understand why India is an ideal place to deploy DePin's decentralized internet technology.

WiFi Dabba CEO Karam Lakshman said that in addition to the lack of access for many Indians, major telecom companies are focusing on what he calls “tier 1 and 2 cities”.

“This means it could take decades to connect the entire country, not considering future increases in data demand,” he said. He also said that as India's fifth-largest economy and second-largest holder of crypto, “it is at the forefront of economic growth and technological innovation, highlighting the need for rapid infrastructure development.”

Lakshman highlighted that the expansion of DP technology will bring a viable solution not only to India but also to other developing countries facing similar connectivity challenges.

“India will serve as an important test bed to refine this model, which can later be replicated globally to address connectivity issues globally.”

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Wi-Fi Dhaba's chief operating officer Shubhendu Sharma said compared to a centralized model controlled by a few telecom companies, the benefits of Depin are that it allows for accelerated infrastructure deployment by involving promoters such as local cable operators.

“Furthermore, transparency in a decentralized network allows for public access to information, fosters a vibrant open source community, and enables the development of new tools and solutions.”

Sharma highlighted how the multi-stakeholder engagement and transparency of DP's model would provide “better services and accountability” to consumers.

The Wi-Fi dhaba networks in Bangalore are said to have seen “widespread use across various sectors of the economy”, from taxis and drivers to corporate executives.

He said the company has played a role in Google's public Wi-Fi initiative in the country as well as India's laser free space optical communication internet deployment, which has contributed to increasing internet access at the national level.

Depins have been gaining traction in Web3 as the next big innovation to connect the decentralized world to the mainstream. In the year In 2023, a company used DPin's technology to democratize 100 Tesla cars on the blockchain and spread ride-sharing across Europe.

Dawn Phillips, director of communications at Wi-Fi Daba, said they expect a “significant increase” in 2024 in DPin and supporting services, especially in developing countries.

“DePINs are poised to find a huge market in these regions where infrastructure development is most needed. Unlike developed countries, where infrastructure is established and markets are saturated, the developing world has untapped potential for the development of decentralized networks.

Earlier in 2024, some Diffie executives echoed these sentiments, calling the pair the “power duo” of 2024 with the addition of artificial intelligence.

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