An offload agreement between Karrier One and AT&T Mobile LLC is an effort by the carrier to use Wi-Fi to more efficiently operate by reducing its reliance on licensed spectrum.
Karrier One will provide a network of Wi-Fi offload locations using Hospt2.0/Passpoint technology globally. The press release says the goal is to reduce costs, enhance network performance, and ensure connectivity.
AT&T is pursuing such a course worldwide. It is especially impactful in countries in which the carrier doesn’t have its own Wi-Fi service.
“As telecom continues to evolve, AT&T recognizes the importance of alternative infrastructure models to expand coverage, improve user experience, and reduce costs,” Samer Bishay, the CEO and Co-Founder of Karrier One, said in a press release.
“This agreement is a testament to the power of Wi-Fi offload combined with Web3 innovation, ensuring that subscribers can stay connected, whether they’re at home or travelling internationally. By embracing DePIN, we’re not just enhancing connectivity, we’re shaping the future of decentralized telecom infrastructure, making networks more resilient, efficient, and accessible for everyone.”
Web3 is a decentralized approach to the Internet built on blockchain concepts. It is a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) project. DePin is a structure under which blockchain technology interacts with real-world infrastructure.
The use of Wi-Fi to stand in for more expensive licensed spectrum wherever possible is anything but a new idea. Just shy of a decade ago — in June, 2015 — Juniper Research predicted that Wi-Fi offload would handled as much as 60% of data traffic by 2019.
