Juliivg: Started Pg

2025-10-01T09:16:34Z

Started Pg

New page

{{Short description|Indian internet services company}}
{{Unreliable sources|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| industry = Internet Services Provider
| founded = 2016
| founder = Shubhendu Sharma and Karam Lakshman
| hq_location = Bangalore
| hq_location_country = India
| num_locations = 3
| num_employees = 45
| website = {{URL|https://wifidabba.com}}
}}'''WiFi Dabba''' is a registered Indian internet services company that provides low-cost distributed internet services based out of [[Bengaluru|Bangalore, Karnataka]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.cgca.gov.in/all-decentralized-licenses?cca-id=KARNATAKA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628083019/http://cgca.gov.in/all-decentralized-licenses?cca-id=KARNATAKA |archive-date=2019-06-28 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=CGCA |url-status=live }}</ref> Individuals from around the world can purchase hotspots, which are then deployed by WiFi Dabba's partner Local Cable Operators (LCOs) in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DePIN-based Wifi Dabba Sets Goals To Democratise Internet Connectivity In India |url=https://www.forbesindia.com/article/cryptocurrency/depinbased-wifi-dabba-sets-goals-to-democratise-internet-connectivity-in-india/92085/1#:~:text=The%20Wifi%20Dabba%20DePIN%20is,to%20use%20data%20through%20hotspot. |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=[[Forbes India]] |language=en}}</ref>

== History ==
WiFi Dabba was founded in 2016 by Shubhendu Sharma and Karam Lakshman as a low-cost internet service provider in [[Bengaluru|Bangalore]], India. The company began operations in 2017 and was incubated and funded by [[Y Combinator]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wifi Dabba, Inc.: Decentralised broadband connectivity. |url=https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/wifi-dabba-inc |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Y Combinator |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-21 |title=Meet WiFi Dabba, a company promising 1GB data at just Rs 20 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/wifi-dabba-a-bangalore-based-start-up-is-giving-1gb-data-at-rs-20-4947906/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

Initially, WiFi Dabba operated as an [[Internet service provider|ISP]] aggregator, offering inexpensive prepaid data packs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-25 |title=This Bengaluru startup wants to provide internet via lasers, 1GB data at just Re 1 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/meet-bengaluru-tech-startup-use-lasers-offer-high-speed-cheap-data-6229424/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> The company introduced proprietary wireless laser devices, known as Supernodes, which it claimed could significantly reduce internet costs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wifi Dabba to bring cheapest data plan at 1Gbps speed in Bengaluru |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/wifi-dabba-to-bring-cheapest-data-plan-at-1gbps-speed-in-bengaluru-801703.html |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

According to media reports, their laser mesh network in Bangalore draws inspiration from Google's discontinued project [[Loon LLC|Loon]], which sought to deliver internet access to underserved regions using high-altitude balloons.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-10 |title=Wifi Dabba Is Taking Notes from Google to Make Your Wi-Fi Faster, Cheaper |url=https://www.gadgets360.com/internet/features/wifi-dabba-broadband-lasers-bengaluru-fso-project-loon-2336441 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=Gadgets 360 |language=en}}</ref> Various media reports also compared WiFi Dabba to [[Reliance Jio]] for its competitive pricing strategy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-11-21 |title=WiFi Dabba: This Bengaluru startup offers 100MB data for just Rs 2 |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/wifi-dabba-this-bengaluru-startup-offers-100mb-data-for-just-rs-2/articleshow/61735251.cms |access-date=2025-02-04 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-11-21 |title=This Startup called Wifi Dabba counters Reliance Jio: Offers 1GB data at just Rs 20; check out more recharge packs |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/life/technology-this-startup-called-wifi-dabba-counters-reliance-jio-offers-1gb-data-at-just-rs-20-check-out-more-recharge-packs-941660/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=FE Tech Bytes |language=en}}</ref>

Because of cheap data, the majority of their clients initially came from lower-income groups or first time [[smartphone]] users in Bangalore.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tyagi |first=Chhavi |date=2017-12-01 |title=100 MB internet for Rs 2: This startup wants to beat Jio at its own game |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/features/100-mb-internet-for-rs-2-this-startup-wants-to-beat-jio-at-its-own-game-wifi-dabba/articleshow/61720515.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-02-04 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

In 2017, the company launched a feature requiring mobile users in India only to fill their mobile number to purchase a prepaid coupon and access their internet services without any scratch cards. <ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFjOZ3Ztgbk |title=Bengaluru start-up gives twist to data wars |date=2017-11-25 |last=WION |access-date=2025-02-04 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

In the same year, Wifi Dabba also became a part of [[Telecom Regulatory Authority of India]] (TRAI’s) Mission for Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (WANI), also known as PM WANI program, and installed 430 internet access points in Bangalore.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Telecom Regulatory Authority of India |title=Report on TRAI Public Open Wi-Fi Pilot |url=https://oldwebsite.trai.gov.in/sites/default/files/WiFiPilotReport05042018.pdf |journal=TRAI |pages=20:21:23 |access-date=5 February 2025}}</ref> The PM WANI program was designed to boost wireless internet connectivity in India.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-12-14 |title=PM WANI WiFi: How this new government initiative aims to boost internet connectivity |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/pm-wani-wifi-how-this-new-government-initiative-aims-to-boost-internet-connectivity-1749341-2020-12-14 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, Wifi Dabba expanded its services to co-living residential complexes in Bangalore.<ref name=":0" /> By 2020, the company had invested $1.7 million in developing laser hotspots, it calls Supernodes.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=|title=WiFi Dabba in talks with investors to raise funds for Rs 1/GB service expansion |url=https://telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/wifi-dabba-in-talks-with-investors-to-raise-funds-for-rs-1/gb-service-expansion/73928233 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=ET Telecom |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==

<references />
[[Category:Technology companies established in 2016]]
[[Category:Internet service providers of India]]
[[Category:Indian companies established in 2016]]
[[Category:Privately held companies of India]]

Wifi Dabba - Revision history

Juliivg: Started Pg