According to several published reports, Wi-Fi provider Andrena has raised $18 million to develop its plans to provide decentralized broadband.
More specifically, the telecom firm plans to further develop a decentralized autonomous wireless network (DAWN), which is a variety of decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN). DAWN is already operating in a test environment.
If it works as expected, DAWN would enable customers to take advantage of wireless base stations on rooftops, which, when combined, would provide mesh internet access without the need for a centralized internet provider. Since no wiring needs to be installed, Andrena says it can offer its decentralized broadband service at a lower cost than competitors.
In addition to the physical infrastructure, DePIN uses blockchain technology for token incentives. Once Andrea rolls out the capability to its customers, they will be able to purchase the tokens via a mobile app, then exchange them to buy internet bandwidth from the network.
Customers will be able to earn tokens as rewards for staying connected to the decentralized broadband network, referring friends and participating as a validator, the published reports said.
The company’s business model is unique in that customers don’t need to purchase the equipment.
“We wanted to create a system that runs itself,” said Neil Chatterjee, Andrena co-founder and CEO, in an interview with Telecompetitor last year. “You can activate it purely through software. You don’t have to roll a truck.”
Andrena developed the access points that underlie the decentralized broadband service, and which are shared among residents.
“There is no equipment in the individual unit,” Chatterjee explained. “It’s like another utility.”
If customers need wired connectivity, Andrena can mail out a device to convert the wireless signal to a wired one, but according to Chatterjee, “95% just need wireless.”
According to the published reports, Dragonfly Capital was the lead investor in the funding for the decentralized broadband network, which also attracted capital from a handful of other venture capital firms. However, no information about the funding was included on Andrena’s or any of those venture firms’ websites.
