In this episode of the DePINed Podcast, Tom Trowbridge, co-founder & CEO of Fluence, sits down with Samer Bishay — the founder of Karrier One — to explore how decentralized telecom infrastructure is reshaping mobile connectivity.
With over 25 years in the telecom industry, Samer shares how Karrier One is building a decentralized mobile network that enables global roaming, local coverage, and Web3-native digital identity — all while leveraging the economic power of the DePIN model.
Karrier One’s Mission to Decentralize Telecom
Current mobile roaming is broken: expensive, fragmented, and inaccessible in rural regions. Karrier One acts as a middleware orchestration layer that allows local networks (run by communities, landlords, or municipalities) to serve users of global carriers like AT&T, without requiring them to switch SIM cards.
This enables a roaming experience that feels like local coverage, with the cost efficiencies of decentralized infrastructure — and removes the need for carriers to build their own towers in every corner of the world.
B2B First: Real Revenue, Real Networks
Unlike most DePINs focused on consumer adoption, Karrier One is structured as a B2B DePIN project. Its early traction includes:
- A partnership with AT&T
- Deployments across North America
- Monthly network revenue of ~$100,000
Node operators earn revenue from real carrier traffic — measured by uptime, throughput, and quality of service — and Karrier One handles settlement in both crypto and fiat rails.
Hardware and Deployment
Karrier One is frequency-agnostic: it supports WiFi, CBRS, and fully licensed spectrum. There are two primary deployment types:
- Indoor nodes (starting at ~$200)
- Outdoor macro nodes (ranging from $5K–$20K)
The nodes are built with selected OEMs and designed for plug-and-play installation, supporting real-time authentication and traffic routing via the Karrier One protocol.
Web3-Native Identity & Payments
One of Karrier One’s most compelling features is its use of Web3-native identity and settlement on-chain. It leverages blockchain for:
- Real-time, transparent reconciliation
- Instant payments to node operators
- Future integration of eSIM provisioning and smart contract-based billing
The project is built on SKALE for low gas, high throughput, and latency-sensitive workloads.
The Founder’s Journey
Samer’s story bridges the worlds of space, telecom, and crypto:
- Started his career at the Canadian Space Agency
- Built telecom networks across Africa, Canada, and the Arctic
- Co-founded Kepler Communications (20+ satellites in orbit)
- Founded Iristel (a major Canadian telco)
Karrier One emerged from decades of firsthand experience with broken telco models and a belief that decentralization can align global incentives for connectivity.
What’s Next
With 600+ devices deployed globally and growing partnerships, Karrier One’s next phase is about:
- Scaling global node adoption (both WiFi and macro)
- Expanding partnerships with telcos and enterprises
- Launching Web3-native user tools (wallets, dashboards, etc.)
About DePINed Podcast
DePINed is a podcast exploring the frontier of decentralized physical infrastructure, hosted by Tom Trowbridge, co-founder of Fluence. Each episode features in-depth conversations with founders, builders, and investors who are shaping the future of real-world Web3 networks.
️ Want to be a guest? Fill out the form here
Catch 50+ episodes featuring top DePIN founders and trailblazing protocols on:
