High-speed broadband internet with blockchain brings billions into crypto

One of the biggest problems many tech companies have faced in recent decades is bringing the majority of the African population into the global economy. As high-speed internet becomes faster and more affordable in many places around the globe, Africa’s infrastructure remains largely untouched, especially in more remote parts of the sub-Saharan region.

Unfortunately, only 22% of the continent has access to high-speed internet, a figure that broadly represents the urban areas. Mobile towers are incredibly outdated, with 91% of mobile users needing to rely on 2G or 3G networks. A blockchain startup is working to change that.

Why does Africa need 3air?

3air, a blockchain-based startup bridging Africa’s connectivity issues and the huge potential of cryptocurrency across the continent, will bring high-speed broadband internet access and decentralized finance to Africa’s major cities in the coming years. The company plans to use wireless mesh technology and NFT subscriptions to connect over 300 million new users to the internet and web3.

With these products, 3air hopes to empower sub-Saharan Africans by connecting them to the global economy. Hardware is an important part of the Internet connection service. 3air will use K3 Last Mile technology to provide up to 1 GBPS dedicated internet connection within a 50km radius around a base station. These stations can be built almost anywhere; they have been deployed in nine countries on three continents.

How can NFTs be part of the financial solution?

Through its broadband access, 3air will offer many other services, including banking, microloans and cryptocurrency wallets. 3air offers purchasable NFTs, and offers internet access as a subscription. Unlike traditional connection contracts, NFTs do not force users into a time commitment. Customers can instead sell their tokens to others on a decentralized market. NFT subscriptions do not require a bank account or home address, so restrictions are no longer an issue.

How can one avail of cash-to-crypto options?

In this model, transferring the subscription also becomes an option; if a user moves, they can transfer service to another resident instead of canceling and hiring services. In addition, when users are on-boarded on Web3 through this service, 3air will provide on-the-ground learning services to on-board users faster and with cash-to-crypto options that do not require onboarding via a checking account.

Web3 is a complicated concept for anyone to wrap their head around, and the company believes that offering these services will connect Africans to the global economy faster. 3air will teach new users about blockchain-related topics, such as opening and using a new cryptocurrency wallet, how to use the new Web3 Internet, and other complex topics that one may have difficulty learning independently.

What benefits does 3air offer?

With the internet service and blockchain that 3air provides, 3air will offer additional services on top of the internet connection. Banking is complicated for those who do not have physical access to a bank, which is few and far between in sub-Saharan Africa. Through 3air’s blockchain, users can store currency, use currency as payment and use other services the banks offer, such as loans, savings and current accounts.

The 3air marketplace is already open to the public and works with African artists and creators to elevate them globally. By offering internet service first, 3air will later be able to expand many other services, such as banking, microloans and Web3 teaching services. African talent and businesses should be able to expand much faster than they would without this connectivity. With a complete blockchain, proven hardware and a stable roadmap, African users should expect these general services to arrive starting in 2023.