A recent internet shutdown across Afghanistan has brought attention to an issue affecting blockchain systems, which is their reliance on traditional internet providers.
For nearly two days, Afghanistan experienced an internet disruption. Service came back on October 1, according to a report by Reuters.
While many believe the Taliban ordered the shutdown, officials later pointed to damage in fiber optic cables as the cause. This was the first complete internet outage under the current Afghan government.
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In September, smaller blackouts had been used to control online behavior the authorities viewed as inappropriate. In total, around 13 million people were affected, according to ABC News.
Blockchains are designed to allow users to transfer value and information without interference. However, they still rely on traditional internet infrastructure to function.
In response to the Afghanistan blackout, Roam Network is developing a mobile-based network that does not rely on one provider, but uses information from users’ phones to build a map showing where internet signals are strongest.
This allows devices to connect through the best available option, whether that is a major provider, a local network, or a peer-to-peer connection.
Roam also plans to introduce an eSIM feature. This would let devices automatically switch between different connection types during an outage.
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