My new-found love for blockchain technology & its potential to disrupt a wide variety of conventional processes led me to explore new, exciting projects in this space. One of such ambitious projects is Qlink — A blockchain based network that enables individuals to share their digital assets (e.g a WiFi hotspot) & get rewarded with tokens. Qlink runs a Proof of Engagement campaign & engages with the community members actively to improve their product. Here are the highlights from the Q&A session I had with the Qlink team on the project as a part of its Think Tank Development campaign.
Me: One of the key ingredients of Qlink project is that it enables individuals to monetise their digital assets e.g Wi-Fi sharing. I have a question regarding the Quality of Service (QoS). Consider the decentralised Wi-Fi sharing for example. You have mentioned that When a Qlink user shares a new Wi-Fi hotspot for the first time, several information, including the internet speed test report would be registered. But we are well aware, internet speed is not something that is guaranteed to stay steady (can/will change over time). How do you measure QoS here & calculate the rewards to providers? More importantly, how can you ensure that the quality of the digital asset meets the prescribed standards so that the recipients don’t suffer? If you ask me I would suggest you to measure the QoS over time, have a rating & review system with the past history of the Wifi sharer.
Qlink: This is a very good suggestion, like the uber review/rating mechanism. However, Qlink would be the technology provider and infrastructure that provides users (both sharers and the recipients) the platform for the telecom service. As a first step, I think a review would be helpful which will in turn effect the price when there is competition and therefore shape the market.
Me: I also have a question regarding network security with regards to a use case mentioned in the white paper . It says that “Wi-Fi owners also have the option to incorporate advertising or content distribution as another way to monetize their connection”. My question is wouldn’t scenarios such as this one make the network susceptible to malware & phishing? How can you ensure that participants don’t engage in unrighteous manipulations of the network?
Qlink: Qlink will ensure the genuinity of all participants by undertaking proper KYC procedures. All QLC owners shall pass our KYC procedures, and I believe the exchanges which will list QLC has also deployed KYC policies as strict.
Me: Question regarding the E2P SMS working. Look at the Decentralized E2P SMS Service flow chart. Is the SMS sent by the seller directly to the receipient or is it done through an agent/entity/block after doing the matching? If the former is true, how does the recipient assert the authenticity of the actual enterprise entity (e.g. Bank)? Basically it would be ideal if the sender address is in the alphanumeric form QL-JPMORGAN etc (for supported countries). Also can the network validate the arrival of the SMS at its destination?
Qlink: The SMS will be delivered by the actual enterprise -similar to SMS services that currently exist. Carriers are the ones who guarantee the arrival of the SMS and Qlink plug to carriers network through gateway.
Me: What is Qlink’s stand on Net neutrality? While the project may be considered as innovative & utilitarian, service providers & their partnerships incentivising users for using a specific component in the network can be intrepreted by certain activist groups as a violation of the principle of Net Neutrality. Does Qlink plan to lay down the facts to convince activist groups & regulators that it doesn’t violate net neutrality?
Qlink: This is a timely issue, he debate over network neutrality that is. As a matter of fact, the discussion is receiving a lot of attention right now because major telcos & corporates are the ones who are campaigning against it, people worry that these guys can potentially exploit their power by controlling the network speed & through other discriminative actions. The biggest casualty in this case would be the end user. Qlink, on the other hand, believes that by creating a decentralised ecosystem of shared digital assets, we are empowering individuals & small businesses. The debate over network neutrality wouldn’t come into question as not Qlink does not provide any grounds for exploitation of the common man.
And thats all for now!
About Qlink — Qlink, a decentralized mobile network, dedicated to constructing an open-source telecom infrastructure on blockchain. It aims to build the world’s first decentralized mobile network, which will extend network coverage, reduce the cost of telecom infrastructures, and reward users for sharing unused network assets.
Website : https://qlink.mobi/f/qlink
White Paper: https://qlink.mobi/qlink2/res/WhitePaper.pdf