▲ ▼ Non cellular network mobile Internet
With Monopoly or Duopoly in the Telecom industry of most countries, the democracy of mobile Internet itself is under threat. There is a needgap to remove cellular network stack for mobile Internet completely.
Fortunately there is no need to reinvent the wheel, we have not been using cellular network for mobile Internet in our homes and offices for several years with WiFi. Long range WiFi hotspots outside our home/office can address this need gap as well.
The reason why long range WiFi hotspots haven't been fielded widely is due to the regulations concerning transmission power for radio, the transmission power required for long rage WiFi transmitter is prohibited in several countries. There are no such limitations on long range WiFi receivers.
A long range WiFi receiver accessory for smartphones/laptops with WiFi hotspots placed at algorithmically calculated optimal locations can address this problem.
Indian Govt. has announced PM-WANI a public WIFI network where private entities can offer Wi-Fi hotspots through a centralised framework - https://www.ndtv.com/business/pm-wani-cabinet-approves-setting-up-of-public-wi-fi-network-across-country-all-you-need-to-know-2336767 , previously mentioned WiFidabba network is part of the network.
Bangalore based startup WiFi Dabba is preparing to offer city wide WiFi hotspot - https://supernode.wifidabba.com/home.
More of my views on WiFi Dabba - https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-view-on-the-Bengaluru-startup-WiFi-Dabba.
What is the advantage of long range Wifi hotspots over satellite-based internet such as Elon Musks Starlink?
Backbone doesn't batter i.e. it can be VSAT Internet like SpaceX, Fiber optics or Lasers(FSOC); the problem I'm stating is with edge i.e. using your phone wifi for Internet anywhere in the open world and not being dependent upon 4G/LTE/5G.
There are already providers doing that, In India WiFi Dabba has been launched recently which addresses the problem discussed here in the city of Bangalore; I have analysed it here - https://www.quora.com/What-is-your-view-on-the-Bengaluru-startup-WiFi-Dabba/answer/Abishek-Muthian.
Indian Govt. has unlicensed several spectrum in 5Ghz band, such as 5150-5250 MHz; 5250-5350 MHz; 5470-5725 MHz; and 5725-5875 MHz to push WiFi technologies development. 2.4 Ghz was already unlicensed spectrum - https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/telecom/telecom-news/government-frees-spectrum-for-wifi-5g-services-in-5-ghz-band-from-licence/articleshow/66322128.cms.
Related need gap - https://needgap.com/problems/52-sharing-wifi-network-with-strangers-for-money-wifi-internet.
Indian telecom players - Airtel and Jio are launching VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi) services across the country skipping cellular spectrum. This may pave way for other startups to join the Telecom race, who traditionally didn't bother due to the requirement of Billons of dollars in capital.