AI Meets DePIN: Harnessing Network Management in Zanzibar with Fraunhofer

AI makes decentralized networks even more intelligent, adaptive, and efficient.  

That’s why, at World Mobile, we’ve been pushing the boundaries of decentralized connectivity. In Zanzibar, we put AI-driven network management to the test, integrating Fraunhofer’s cutting-edge network management solutions with our proprietary AI models. The result? A smarter, faster, and more resilient decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) - with valuable takeaways for the future of telecoms.

AI in Action: What We Tested in Zanzibar

Working alongside Fraunhofer’s Wireless Communications and Networking Department, we explored how AI can improve real-world network deployment and performance. The focus was on four key areas:

• Faster deployment: Automating network configuration to cut setup time.

• Real-time congestion management: Dynamically adjusting resource allocation based on network traffic.

• Scalability and adaptability: Ensuring AI models can perform effectively across varying congestion levels.

• Predictive maintenance: Identifying network issues before they impact performance.

This wasn’t just a lab experiment - it was a real-world test in a dynamic environment, with AI continuously optimizing and adapting to the network’s needs.

Key Learnings: How AI Improved Decentralized Connectivity

From our deployment, we gained crucial insights into how AI enhances network efficiency:

• Faster deployment: AI-driven configuration reduced network setup time, streamlining frequency allocation and interference management.

• Optimized performance in moderate congestion: AI-based resource allocation led to smoother connectivity, lower latency and reduced packet loss where network demand was manageable.

• Challenges in high-demand environments: In areas of extreme congestion, packet loss and frequency optimisation became a challenge, highlighting the need for continued refinement of AI algorithms.

• Scalability validation: AI models adapted dynamically to different network conditions, reinforcing their viability for large-scale decentralized deployments.

These findings confirm that AI-powered network management isn’t just an upgrade - it’s a necessity for scaling decentralized telecoms efficiently.

What This Means for the Future of Decentralized Networks

The Zanzibar deployment was more than a technical trial - it was a proof of concept that lays the groundwork for smarter, more scalable decentralized networks.

• More efficient rollouts: AI streamlines network planning, reducing time and cost barriers.

• Adaptability across environments: AI-driven optimization ensures reliability in both urban and rural settings.

• Sustainability benefits: Smarter resource allocation reduces energy consumption, making DePIN networks greener.

• Continuous AI evolution: Lessons from Zanzibar will drive ongoing improvements across our global network, making our networks even more intelligent over time.

By embedding AI-powered network management into World Mobile’s decentralized infrastructure, we’re not just connecting people - we’re building a self-optimizing, future-proof network that adapts to what the world needs.

The future of telecoms isn’t just decentralized. It’s AI-driven, scalable, and unstoppable.

‍