What is Dabba Network or Wifi Dabba? Honest Review

Dabba Network or also known as Wifi Dabba, is one of the projects of a group of young Indians whose journey is like a film.

Starting in 2017 with a mission to provide equal internet access in India, Dabba Network, or Wifi Dabba, has survived until now.

The interesting news is that the original Dabba Network token, called DBT, will launch soon.

Before the crypto world is enlivened by DBT Token, let's first explore what Dabba Network is.

What is Dabba Network or Wifi Dabba?

The Dabba Network is a decentralized wireless infrastructure project built to radically reshape how internet connectivity is distributed, owned, and monetized, especially in underserved regions like rural and urban India. 

It leverages blockchain and a model known as DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) to allow everyday individuals and local operators to become part of a decentralized internet ecosystem.

At its core, the Dabba Network allows people from around the world to purchase and deploy Wi-Fi hotspots, such as the “Dabba Lite” or “Dabba Pro,” in high-demand areas of India. 

These devices are managed and installed by local cable operators (LCOs) who act as on-ground partners. 

As the hotspot delivers internet access to users, the owner earns Dabba Tokens (DBT), the project’s native cryptocurrency, based on data consumption. 

This incentive model transforms traditional internet infrastructure into a community-owned, blockchain-driven service.

Why the Name Changed: From Wifi Dabba to Dabba Network

The shift from Wifi Dabba to Dabba Network represents more than just a rebranding, it reflects a philosophical and technological transformation.

Wifi Dabba, launched in Bengaluru in 2016, began as a hyper-local startup providing affordable internet via prepaid Wi-Fi vouchers. 

Their goal was to bring cheap, reliable internet to public spaces like tea stalls and small shops using low-cost routers. The name "Wifi Dabba" was a playful, accessible phrase in Indian English, “dabba” meaning “box” in Hindi, essentially “Wi-Fi Box.”

However, as the project matured, the founders recognized the limitations of operating as a centralized ISP. 

They began envisioning a broader system that could scale using decentralized technologies, reduce deployment friction, and reward participation through crypto incentives. This led to the birth of the Dabba Network.

Read Also: Top 5 DePIN Crypto Projects to Watch in 2025

In this new model, the “Wifi” prefix no longer captured the full scope of what the project had become. 

It wasn’t just about providing Wi-Fi anymore; it was about building a community-powered, tokenized network, where infrastructure is owned by people, maintained by local partners, and governed transparently via blockchain.

Thus, "Dabba Network" emerged as the evolution of the brand: a name that honored its origins (keeping "Dabba") but removed the narrow technical reference ("Wifi") to reflect its Web3-native, global ambitions.

Dabba Network Recent Developments

The recent development of Dabba Network, as highlighted in the tweet posted on May 28, 2025, marks a significant leap in India’s digital infrastructure and showcases the network’s evolution from a local Wi-Fi startup in 2017 to a decentralized nationwide initiative in 2025.

From a Wi-Fi box in a Bengaluru tea stall to a blockchain-powered telecom movement, the journey of Dabba Network reflects the power of evolving vision. 

It began with solving small problems locally, and over eight years, it grew into a platform poised to help shape India’s digital future, inclusively, transparently, and collectively.

2017 – The Birth of Wifi Dabba

In 2017, two entrepreneurs in Bengaluru, Karam Lakshman and Shubhendu Sharma, launched Wifi Dabba with a bold idea: bring ultra-affordable internet access to India’s street corners and tea stalls. 

Instead of relying on expensive telecom infrastructure, Wifi Dabba created a network of cheap, custom-built routers that provided internet for as little as ₹2 for 100 MB.

The model was radical. Shopkeepers became mini-ISPs, selling prepaid internet to anyone nearby. 

Their goal was not to compete with giants like Jio or Airtel, but to solve a real access problem by democratizing connectivity for low-income urban users.

2018 – Pilot Rollout and Local Buzz

By 2018, Wifi Dabba had rolled out hundreds of routers across Bangalore’s busy neighborhoods. 

It gained traction among students, workers, and low-income users. Their offline-first payment model (using tokens and QR codes) made it accessible to those without digital literacy or bank accounts.

Media began to take notice of this “Wi-Fi for the people” experiment. Though small in scale, Wifi Dabba showed that infrastructure innovation didn’t always require massive capital; it required creativity and community trust.

2019 – Scaling Ambitions and Y Combinator Backing

In 2019, Wifi Dabba was accepted into Y Combinator, Silicon Valley’s most prestigious startup accelerator. 

With this momentum, the team began refining its hardware, exploring fiber backhaul partnerships, and planning for broader rollout.

They also began rethinking their role, not just as a micro-ISP, but as infrastructure providers for a new kind of internet economy. 

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Discussions around decentralized ownership and community-powered networks began to surface internally.

2020 – Challenges and Reflection

Like many grassroots innovations, Wifi Dabba encountered regulatory hurdles and logistical bottlenecks as it tried to scale. Telecom compliance, right-of-way for cabling, and spectrum access slowed expansion. 

These challenges forced the team to reassess: could a centralized ISP model ever truly reach underserved areas efficiently?

This period became pivotal for Dabba's strategic pivot. Rather than fighting telecom giants head-on, they began exploring the emerging world of blockchain, decentralized infrastructure, and token economics.

2021–2022 – Quiet Build Phase and DePIN Exploration

During these two years, Wifi Dabba entered a quiet build phase. While not as publicly visible, the team was laying the groundwork for a major evolution. 

Inspired by projects like Helium, they researched DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) as a scalable alternative.

They began developing new hardware, Dabba Lite and Dabba Pro, designed to be deployed not just by the company, but by anyone globally. 

These devices could earn rewards based on usage, turning connectivity into a community-owned service.

2023 – Rebranding as Dabba Network

In 2023, Wifi Dabba officially rebranded as Dabba Network. The name change marked a clear transition:

• From centralized service provider → to decentralized platform

• From local Wi-Fi access → to national infrastructure powered by crypto

• From selling data sachets → to tokenized incentives via DBT (Dabba Token)

Under the Dabba Network model, global participants could purchase hotspots, which were then deployed by local cable operators (LCOs) in high-demand Indian communities. 

These operators managed installation and upkeep, while hotspot owners earned DBT tokens.

2024 – Scaling the Decentralized Model

By 2024, Dabba Network had grown rapidly. Thousands of Dabba devices were deployed across India. The network was transferring over 50–60 TB of data per day, with more than 11,000 hotspots online.

This year also saw partnerships with crypto-native projects, like BONK on Solana, where token burning mechanics were linked to hotspot usage, increasing utility and community engagement.

Read Also: Is Crypto Legal in India? Here's the Answer and Why

Dabba became a standout example in the DePIN movement, gaining recognition among global investors, telecom innovators, and the broader Web3 ecosystem.

2025 – National Recognition & Government Alignment

In 2025, Dabba Network reached a new level of influence.

On May 28, 2025, the Indian government announced its plan to expand from 30 million to 100 million fixed broadband connections by 2030, under the National Telecom Policy. Dabba Network was highlighted as a key private partner supporting this mandate.

According to the official tweet, Dabba is targeting over 100,000 hotspot deployments by 2026, with the mission to connect underserved and rural communities. 

The tweet, stylized like a comic front page, "Dabba to the Rescue!", captures the network’s heroic role in India's digital transformation.

The network had already delivered over 10 million GB of data, signaling massive scale and adoption.

Dabba Network Review

One of the most detailed professional reviews comes from Messari.io. They describe Dabba Network as a pioneering DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) project.

Dabba’s approach, using community-owned Wi-Fi hotspots, helps bridge India’s digital divide by bypassing traditional telecom bottlenecks.

Messari praises Dabba's demand-led deployment model, where hotspots are only installed in areas with proven demand, which avoids wasteful infrastructure. 

The report also applauds the tokenomic structure of Dabba Tokens (DBT), which rewards hotspot owners, local operators, and backhaul providers for data usage, creating a scalable, self-sustaining model.

SwissBorg Academy – “What is Dabba Network?”

SwissBorg Academy highlights Dabba’s use of blockchain technology (especially on Solana) to create transparency in the telecom industry. 

According to their platform article, Dabba Network’s DePIN strategy lets anyone own part of a decentralized wireless infrastructure, potentially earning income through DBT tokens.

SwissBorg notes that Dabba isn’t just disrupting internet delivery, it’s also redefining who gets to own and govern connectivity infrastructure. 

The low-cost hardware and community-based setup reflect a future-forward model that aligns with global DePIN trends.

TechRadar – “Wifi Dabba’s Laser Internet”

In an earlier spotlight on Wifi Dabba, TechRadar reviewed the company’s unique technology choices, particularly their use of Free-space Optical (FSO) Communication.

Instead of laying underground fiber (which is costly and regulation-heavy), Dabba uses laser-based transmission to beam internet across rooftops. 

This lowers installation costs drastically, making it ideal for densely populated or under-connected neighborhoods.

The article notes that this technical innovation could help Dabba Network leapfrog traditional ISPs, especially in difficult terrains or urban sprawls.

DBT Token From Dabba Network

The DBT Token, or Dabba Token, is the native cryptocurrency that powers the economic ecosystem of the Dabba Network, a decentralized wireless infrastructure platform designed to provide affordable internet access across India. 

Built on the Solana blockchain, DBT is more than just a digital asset, it is a functional tool that connects the digital and physical worlds by rewarding users, operators, and infrastructure providers for contributing to the network.

Read Also: How to Hack Wi-Fi Passwords? A Guide to Understanding

How DBT Works in Practice

In the Dabba Network, the internet is delivered through physical Wi-Fi routers, such as Dabba Lite or Dabba Pro, which are installed across India. 

These devices are owned by individuals (often from around the world), but are maintained and operated locally by Local Cable Operators (LCOs).

When someone connects to a Dabba Wi-Fi hotspot and uses data, that activity is tracked by the network, and DBT tokens are distributed as follows:

• The hotspot owner earns DBT based on the amount of data consumed.

• The local cable operator who installed and maintains the hotspot also receives a share of the DBT as payment for their work.

• The backhaul provider, which supplies the core internet bandwidth to the device, is rewarded in DBT for ensuring connectivity.

• Hardware manufacturers, who produce certified routers for the network, may also be compensated in DBT to support device availability.

This model makes DBT a reward token, an infrastructure incentive, and a connector between stakeholders.

The DBT Token is not just a cryptocurrency, it’s a utility layer for a new kind of telecom infrastructure. 

It blends blockchain incentives with real-world impact by making internet access something that can be earned, shared, and decentralized. 

Read Also: What is Kadena? Introduction to Blockchain for Business

As India aims to expand broadband coverage to 100 million homes by 2030, DBT could be one of the key enablers of this digital transformation, empowering communities through access, ownership, and reward.

Final Note

Dabba Network, originally known as Wifi Dabba, is a revolutionary initiative transforming how internet connectivity is delivered and owned in India. 

It began in 2017 as a low-cost, community-based Wi-Fi service in Bengaluru, using small, shop-installed routers to provide affordable access to people in underserved areas. 

This early version, known as Wifi Dabba, offered data at incredibly low prices, bringing internet access to tea stalls, kiosks, and street corners.

By 2023, the project evolved into the Dabba Network, embracing blockchain technology and a DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) model. 

Now, it allows individuals around the world to buy and own internet infrastructure, hotspot routers, deployed in India and maintained by local cable operators. These participants earn rewards in the form of Dabba Tokens (DBT) every time someone uses data through their device.

The network operates on a burn-and-earn model, meaning DBT tokens are burned with each data use, helping sustain long-term token value while encouraging real-world utility.

In essence, Dabba Network is not just an internet provider, it’s a decentralized, token-powered ecosystem that turns broadband access into a shared, community-driven asset. 

It represents a bold shift from centralized telecom to a more inclusive, transparent, and scalable model of digital connectivity.

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FAQ

1. What is Dabba Network, and how does it work?

Dabba Network is a decentralized wireless infrastructure platform that allows individuals to own and deploy Wi-Fi hotspots in India. Using blockchain technology and tokenized incentives (DBT tokens), it rewards participants based on real internet data usage across the network.

2. What is the difference between Wifi Dabba and Dabba Network?

Wifi Dabba was the original low-cost internet service launched in Bengaluru in 2017, offering prepaid data through local shops. Dabba Network is its evolved form, rebranded in 2023, focusing on decentralized infrastructure ownership and crypto-based rewards using the DBT token.

3. What is the DBT Token used for in the Dabba Network?

The DBT Token is used to reward hotspot owners, local cable operators, and backhaul providers for supporting internet access. It also features a burn mechanism, reducing supply as network usage increases, which helps maintain the token’s value.

4. Can anyone participate in the Dabba Network?

Yes, anyone around the world can purchase a Dabba hotspot (like Dabba Lite or Pro). These devices are deployed in India by local partners, and owners earn DBT tokens based on how much internet data their hotspot delivers.

5. Is Dabba Network part of India’s national broadband goals?

Yes, Dabba Network is aligned with India’s plan to expand fixed broadband access from 30 million to 100 million households by 2030. It has been recognized as a decentralized, scalable partner contributing to national connectivity efforts.