3air Ecosystem
The 3air blockchain platform will provide an easy-to-use, blockchain-based ISP management system with the integrated security, transparency, and low fees needed to operate a stable and reliable telecom network.
The whole project is divided into 3 stages:
- Create a market for broadband infrastructure in Africa with the K3 partnership.
- Build the blockchain ecosystem.
- Expand the platform with additional functionalities and onboard new ISPs.
SKALE Blockchain
Skale is a system of containerized networks capable of running an unlimited amount of secure, decentralized, high-performance blockchains native to Ethereum. Please, find more information about SKALE here.
K3 Broadband Solution
The best platforms are only worth as much as they are used. Bolstered by K3’s unique solution for building broadband, we project up to 1 million users for the 3air platform within the first 3 years.
After developing the platform and testing it with real users, we will open to additional ISP providers, aiming to create a globally connected platform.
Core Functions of the 3air Platform
Digital Identities
Identification is a cornerstone of society. However, many of Africa’s population still lacks proper identification and provable records in essential fields such as finance, education, and health. In a trustless, secure, and private system, digital identities can allow authorized users to check credit scores, medical history, and proof of education verifiable directly on the blockchain.
ISPs are perfectly suited for identification services. They currently process a lot of relevant personal information about their customers, but they are not part of the authentication and identity services in general. 3air can make use of this inherent potential.
With the 3air platform, ISPs could provide identity-as-a-service services and earn additional revenue streams or offer extra value to their clients.
A reliable digital identity may be recognized by central authorities and could potentially serve as official means of identification. Such an identity will have many benefits for both the client and the ISP.
Figure 5: DID issuing and service interactions
Payments
All transactions on the 3air platform will be made with 3air tokens to promote token adoption. We also aim to achieve third-party adoption and inclusion in the future.
To achieve mass adoption, we need to resolve ease of use. For this reason, we will include other payment options and facilitate backend conversion of payments into 3air tokens. This service may attract additional fees to motivate 3air token payments.
Figure 6: 3air payments workflow
Bandwidth Sharing
K3 is already testing a technical solution that permits sharing bandwidth through special access point nodes. For its part, 3air will provide the ideal interface and blockchain solution.
There are 2 main issues with bandwidth sharing:
- Local regulations,
- Terms and conditions from the ISP.
To avoid these issues, we will facilitate service variation on our platform, where ISPs can choose to allow bandwidth sharing and charge a premium fee. Users that acquire such a package will be provided with proper access point hardware and software. To avoid regulatory issues, the users will authenticate with their DIDs or use the internet under a short-term public connection policy that requires light authentication only.
Connectivity NFTs
3air users will be able to acquire 3air services through the power of NFTs.
Device NFTs
The first type of NFT’s will be issued by 3air to the customer. These are unique NFTs that work to identify the exact hardware of the user and assist us in delivering them optimal services.
Connectivity NFTs
A second type of NFTs will then be used to provide information on the exact services (such as subscription based services) that need to be provided to the Device NFT. These NFTs may be used in many novel ways allowing for secondary markets, transfering of subscriptions, donations, unique business models and more.
Rewards and Loyalty System
The 3air platform will include a loyalty system that provides 3air token rewards that will be at the user’s discretion to use and customize.
The 3air rewards and loyalty system will evolve. A few examples of the functionalities that may be integrated are gamified ranks, airdrops, coupons as NFTs and more.
The system aims to provide a customizable token-based rewards system suitable for ISPs.
Figure 7: 3air rewards system
Community Building and Governance
3air aims to become fully decentralized with time. Governance is a major part of the 3air platform and token use case. It will help to build the community, incentivize token holding and improve token adoption and decentralization.
There are many on and off-chain governance solutions available for EVM-compatible chains, but Snapshot is one of the most popular and fully integrated with Skale.
The community pool is another part of our plan to decentralize 3air. 3air could regularly provide funds to the community pool. The pool may be funded with a fraction of the fees collected from platform transactions.
The community pool aims to incentivize participation in the decentralization of 3air and help develop the local social communities by funding beneficial projects.
Figure 8: 3air governance system
- Voting strategies
Decentralized governance is not perfect, and new systems and voting strategies are being developed. Usually, we associate on-chain voting power according to individual token holdings. It may be considered fair, but it comes with flaws and inequities, as pointed out by Vitalik Buterin (Buterin, vitalik.ca, 2021).
3air is following the latest developments in decentralized governance (DeGov). We believe reputation-based voting may be the future of DeGov combined with quadratic voting. One of these systems is the Orange protocol (protocol, 2021).
In such a system, more engaged users will have more voting power than strictly passive token holders that usually represent the speculative investor.
Own your own hardware incentive
It is common for an ISP to charge a connection fee to lease the required hardware to the customer. The usual hardware includes a modem, a router, or a TV box.
A token economy provides a different approach to this practice and creates new value for all participants. We propose the “Own your own HW” incentive, where users can become the owners of their hardware and the company gains long-term clients. The implementation of this approach might be modified in some regions.
The company will provide the client with 3air tokens worth less than the HW’s value. The client can use the HW as long as they have a valid subscription and their 3air tokens remain locked. If the client discontinues their subscription (e.g. during the first 12 months), the locked tokens are returned to the company, and they need to return the HW.
After the lockup period, the user may decide to unlock their tokens by paying for the HW to keep the tokens and become the owner of the HW. These locked tokens are not part of any staking pool and generate no yield. The whole token economy benefits as the total value locked (TVL) rises with each new user.
Staking
To promote other “hodling” incentives, 3air may provide a staking pool where users can receive rewards by staking their tokens. 3air will provide an easy-to-use application governed by a smart contract that will enable staking.
Figure 9: 3air staking system
- Early Staking Pools
Upon launch, 3air will provide a pre-staking application within the 3air app (app.3air.io) under the staking tab.
Floating APY pool
3air will start with a continuous staking pool that will be available for an undefined period of time.
Microloans
There is enormous potential in providing additional financial services in developing countries, but they come with special considerations too. The issues include low repayment rates unless strict selection processes or proper enforcing mechanisms exist.
As a platform for ISP providers and DID issuers, we will explore the options of providing microloans to customers for acquired services. With a valid payment track record and other personal information, we can enter low-risk microloans in the scope of previously acquired services. Additionally, 3air tokens can be staked as collateral for loan repayment.
With time, a large amount of data should enable us to build a sound credit score model that could allow the 3air platform to expand microloans beyond the ISP providers, giving customers options for financial inclusion and standard banking services.
Figure 10: 3air microloans system
Telecom Management System (TMS)
TMS is a unique all-in-one software solution for telecom operators. It aims to create a single software solution for every employee and company function. TMS is more than just some service software; it includes proven procedures for completing everyday telecom tasks like activating customers, handling support tickets, organizing networking departments, or day-to-day planning of field installation teams.
The system must also be secure and protected against fraud.
We will develop a one-click, modular, white-label TMS solution that is both simple and scalable. The modules will include metering, billing provisioning, controlling, community building, loyalty-building, and other features specially designed for the telecom industry. Connections with accounting software providers will be automated.
As the platform develops, TMS will be upgraded with additional modules and features.
Future development
In the third phase, 3air will become the go-to platform for ISPs because it will provide identity, payment, community, governance, marketing solutions, and other functions.
The main benefits that 3air could provide for ISPs in the future include fraud prevention, increased access to services, bandwidth distribution and more.
Business model
3air will operate on a fee basis for the provided platform services. Fees will vary according to the type of service and client turnover.
The standard transaction fee is currently 1% of the total transaction. The rates for other services such as creating a DID, evaluating client credit score, granting microloans and others will be set at the point of implementation.