 |
| Industry | Internet Services Provider |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founder(s) | Shubhendu Sharma and Karam Lakshman |
| Headquarters | Bangalore, India |
Number of locations | 3 |
Number of employees | 45 |
| Website | wifidabba |
WiFi Dabba is a registered Indian internet services company that provides low-cost distributed internet services based out of Bangalore, Karnataka.[1] Individuals from around the world can purchase hotspots, which are then deployed by WiFi Dabba's partner Local Cable Operators (LCOs) in India.[2]
History[edit | edit source]
WiFi Dabba was founded in 2016 by Shubhendu Sharma and Karam Lakshman as a low-cost internet service provider in Bangalore, India. The company began operations in 2017 and was incubated and funded by Y Combinator.[3][4]
Initially, WiFi Dabba operated as an ISP aggregator, offering inexpensive prepaid data packs.[5] The company introduced proprietary wireless laser devices, known as Supernodes, which it claimed could significantly reduce internet costs.[6]
According to media reports, their laser mesh network in Bangalore draws inspiration from Google's discontinued project Loon, which sought to deliver internet access to underserved regions using high-altitude balloons.[7] Various media reports also compared WiFi Dabba to Reliance Jio for its competitive pricing strategy.[8][9]
Because of cheap data, the majority of their clients initially came from lower-income groups or first time smartphone users in Bangalore.[10]
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. [11]
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.[12] The PM WANI program was designed to boost wireless internet connectivity in India.[13]
In 2018, Wifi Dabba expanded its services to co-living residential complexes in Bangalore.[14] By 2020, the company had invested $1.7 million in developing laser hotspots, it calls Supernodes.[14]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Home". CGCA. Archived from the original on 2019-06-28. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ↑ "DePIN-based Wifi Dabba Sets Goals To Democratise Internet Connectivity In India". Forbes India. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ↑ "Wifi Dabba, Inc.: Decentralised broadband connectivity". Y Combinator. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ↑ "Meet WiFi Dabba, a company promising 1GB data at just Rs 20". The Indian Express. 2017-11-21. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ↑ "This Bengaluru startup wants to provide internet via lasers, 1GB data at just Re 1". The Indian Express. 2020-01-25. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ↑ "Wifi Dabba to bring cheapest data plan at 1Gbps speed in Bengaluru". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 2025-04-22.
- ↑ "Wifi Dabba Is Taking Notes from Google to Make Your Wi-Fi Faster, Cheaper". Gadgets 360. 2020-12-10. Retrieved 2025-02-06.
- ↑ "WiFi Dabba: This Bengaluru startup offers 100MB data for just Rs 2". The Times of India. 2017-11-21. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ↑ "This Startup called Wifi Dabba counters Reliance Jio: Offers 1GB data at just Rs 20; check out more recharge packs". FE Tech Bytes. 2017-11-21. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ↑ Tyagi, Chhavi (2017-12-01). "100 MB internet for Rs 2: This startup wants to beat Jio at its own game". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
- ↑ WION (2017-11-25). Bengaluru start-up gives twist to data wars. Retrieved 2025-02-04 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. "Report on TRAI Public Open Wi-Fi Pilot" (PDF). TRAI: 20:21:23. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
- ↑ "PM WANI WiFi: How this new government initiative aims to boost internet connectivity". India Today. 2020-12-14. Retrieved 2025-02-05.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "WiFi Dabba in talks with investors to raise funds for Rs 1/GB service expansion". ET Telecom. Retrieved 2025-02-04.