Internet is one limitation of bitcoin

[ormatr]

I am facing a real world issue that prevents me from using Bitcoin.

I live in Pakistan and for last three days cellular internet service all across the country is suspended because of prevailing law and order situation. Internet is working on fixed line connection that is reaching homes. So there is still some connectivity available.

If government shut down internet service even on fixed line connection then there will be complete internet blackout in the country and in that situation we cant use bitcoin.

I think this is also one of limitation of bitcoin that we need internet to use it. 

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[Oshosondy]

This is not the problem of bitcoin, but the problem with your government that disabled internet in your country. You can use Starlink instead of relying on local service providers.

Elon Musk's Starlink finally registered in Pakistan to roll out internet services. ISLAMABAD – Elon Musk's famous satellite broadband provider Starlink has reportedly registered to operate and provide internet services in Pakistan.

[ormatr]

This is not the problem of bitcoin, but the problem with your government that disabled internet in your country. You can use Starlink instead of relying on local service providers.

Elon Musk's Starlink finally registered in Pakistan to roll out internet services. ISLAMABAD – Elon Musk's famous satellite broadband provider Starlink has reportedly registered to operate and provide internet services in Pakistan.

This service is still not started in Pakistan they just got registered.
The point is in case of Internet blackout we have no access to bitcoin.

[Patrol69]

My question to you is only government internet services are off in your country or all internet services are off? Shutting down the entire internet system will cut off a country from the modern world. 
At present, no work can be done without internet. I hope that the entire internet service has not been stopped in your country, only the internet services operated by the government have been stopped. You can use other Internet services if the government-run Internet services are stopped.

[o_e_l_e_o]

There are alternative options, although they will take a bit of time and effort in order to set up and use.

The easiest way to stay synced with the network without an internet connection is via Blockstream Satellite. It is possible to repurpose any old satellite dish in order to do this.

In order to broadcast a transaction, you need to get it to someone with an internet connection. This might be someone who has bypassed government restrictions, or maybe someone who lives near a border and can use the connection of another country, or someone outside your country altogether. You can get it to them via a mesh network such as goTenna, via SMS, via radio, or any other way you like.

[DaveF]

From the news reports at the moment it's all cellular data being off in the country and some home / fixed internet.
Others are saying it's a total blackout others are saying it's not that bad.

Eliminating everything else from the picture, it's not like this was not a known thing. You will always need some form of internet to get a tx in or out.
There are ways / sites that you can broadcast a transaction that you created without needing a node. You just really need an understanding of what you are doing. It's not a simple click -> send. But, if you do not have internet, you don't have banking either so it all comes back to that.

-Dave

[ormatr]

There are alternative options, although they will take a bit of time and effort in order to set up and use.

The easiest way to stay synced with the network without an internet connection is via Blockstream Satellite. It is possible to repurpose any old satellite dish in order to do this.

In order to broadcast a transaction, you need to get it to someone with an internet connection. This might be someone who has bypassed government restrictions, or maybe someone who lives near a border and can use the connection of another country, or someone outside your country altogether. You can get it to them via a mesh network such as goTenna, via SMS, via radio, or any other way you like.

Thanks for sharing this useful info.
Situation is getting better now and hopefully today or by tomorrow internet facility will be restored.
But Blockstream Satellite is useful thing that can help you in case of situation which Bitcoiners are facing in Pakistan.  
A very useful info in the homepage of Blockstream Satellite

"Internet Not Required
Blockstream Satellite broadcasts the Bitcoin blockchain to the entire planet via satellite, reducing Bitcoin’s dependency on internet access. Everyone in the world now has an opportunity to use Bitcoin."

So there is some solution to access Bitcoin without internet.

[SamReomo]

I am facing a real world issue that prevents me from using Bitcoin.

I live in Pakistan and for last three days cellular internet service all across the country is suspended because of prevailing law and order situation. Internet is working on fixed line connection that is reaching homes. So there is still some connectivity available.

If the cellular data is disabled then that might be suspended intentionally. However, in such cases it is always preferable to use secondary connection in the form of Broadband, or Fibre optics as they most likely won't be affected in such situations. It's always a better choice to have access to internet via multiple routes just relying on cellular data is not a reliable thing.

If government shut down internet service even on fixed line connection then there will be complete internet blackout in the country and in that situation we cant use bitcoin.

The government won't shut down the whole internet as that will take the country backward, however if anything like that happens then only those people will be able to use the internet who will have their own private connections via satellite. One such service is Starlink as they offer satellite services across globe.

Wow man! The information is really amazing! But it's very technical for someone to get access to such internet connection. I also think that such connections might be illegal and could cause problems for the user. If a government is completely blocking internet and still the user is trying to access it with the help of such connections might be the reason of legal action against the user.

[LoyceV]

A very useful info in the homepage of Blockstream Satellite

"Internet Not Required
Blockstream Satellite broadcasts the Bitcoin blockchain to the entire planet via satellite, reducing Bitcoin’s dependency on internet access. Everyone in the world now has an opportunity to use Bitcoin."

That's like saying private jets reduce the world's dependence on bicycles.

[FatFork]

The point is in case of Internet blackout we have no access to bitcoin.

Well, if there's a total internet blackout, I think you'll have bigger things to worry about than not being able to access your Bitcoin.

Basically, every form of internet communication will be disabled, including email, web, online banking, social media, and even communication apps like WhatsApp and many other services. In such a scenario, people would likely turn to alternative means of communication and transactions, such as using cash (in many countries, card payments on POS systems and ATMs may also be affected). Plus, a widespread internet blackout can have far-reaching consequences beyond personal finances and communication. It can potentially disrupt essential services such as emergency response systems, transportation, and logistics, making it difficult for people to access medical care, food, and other essentials. We rely so much on the internet for everything these days, so it's a pretty scary scenario to think about in the modern world.

[o_e_l_e_o]

If a government is completely blocking internet and still the user is trying to access it with the help of such connections might be the reason of legal action against the user.

If a government is completely blocking the internet in order to suppress and control its population, then I would haven no issues attempting to bypass those restrictions and fight for my freedom, including the financial freedom that bitcoin brings.

In such a scenario, people would likely turn to alternative means of communication and transactions, such as using cash (in many countries, card payments on POS systems and ATMs may also be affected). Plus, a widespread internet blackout can have far-reaching consequences beyond personal finances and communication. It can potentially disrupt essential services such as emergency response systems, transportation, and logistics, making it difficult for people to access medical care, food, and other essentials.

Any internet blackout would likely simply prevent access to the outside world, like China or North Korea already do to various degrees. Systems like national banking or emergency response could easily continue to run.

[tranthidung]

Use alternatives for off-grid transactions

• [Total privacy Bitcoin]: off grid Transactions LoRaWan/goTenna
• https://gotennamesh.com/products/mesh
• LoraWan: https://github.com/valerio-vaccaro/LoraCaster

[Obito]

To some level I would agree that Internet is a limitation for bitcoin but there are physical tokens that can store bitcoin in them that you can buy, you can use that to trade for fiat if you need it but in terms of trading, you might have a problem. Remember OP, mankind has survived this long because we always find a way.

[Lorence.xD]

Isn't something that your freedom to use internet? For sure the government announced something regarding to the down of internet services, but if it was permanent and not temporary then I definitely not let it slide since there's a lot of people in a country that are relying on the internet like home-based jobs, communication via internet and also the crypto industry. I couldn't even imagine a world that there's no internet since my money sources are from online. If that's the case you could try the recommendation above mentioned about satellite but it's my first time hearing about it.

[NeuroticFish]

I think this is also one of limitation of bitcoin that we need internet to use it. 

Internet is the foundation for a lot of services and it's well known that bitcoin doesn't work without internet, although certain attempts/workaround exist, from radio waves and SMS to use of "physical bitcoin" things (like OpenDime, Satodime and others) or what what already said (Starlink & others)

However, it's not something new that certain countries can and do prevent people from using bitcoin whether they do it intentionally (China) or maybe not necessarily intentionally (your case, I don't know the legal status there) and not necessarily unexpected. That doesn't make Bitcoin worse overall. It does make your government though 

But people tend to find their ways around. At least fixed internet may be necessary for modern banking system (and I mean here the actual banks). And if the government start filtering this and that, Tor, VPN are still ways to go around. They usually cannot stop all the possible ways.

[kryptqnick]

I wouldn't have known about the Pakistan situation without this thread, so thank you for sharing. Restricting Internet usage like this is such a serious measure, and not one commonly used to deal with protests (if that's the cause). I mean, I'd understand if there was a major disruption that naturally led to serious Internet connection issues (we had such things in Ukraine because of the war and blackouts related to the war), but that's something imposed, done on purpose...
I suppose under such conditions, Bitcoin being a digital currency is an issue (although there are workarounds, as o_e_l_e_o mentioned). But aren't there also bigger issues that come from such harsh Internet restrictions that make Bitcoin only a minor thing in comparison?

[lovesmayfamilis]

Isn't something that your freedom to use internet? For sure the government announced something regarding to the down of internet services, but if it was permanent and not temporary then I definitely not let it slide since there's a lot of people in a country that are relying on the internet like home-based jobs, communication via internet and also the crypto industry. I couldn't even imagine a world that there's no internet since my money sources are from online. If that's the case you could try the recommendation above mentioned about satellite but it's my first time hearing about it.

I hope that the problem with the Internet is temporary. Read the news: in Pakistan, the government shut down the internet indefinitely due to popular unrest. https://technoblender.com/pakistan-internet-restrictions-could-be-indefinite/
Innocent people are forced to accept government decisions. I don't think the lack of internet will last long.

[Ucy]

I am facing a real world issue that prevents me from using Bitcoin.

I live in Pakistan and for last three days cellular internet service all across the country is suspended because of prevailing law and order situation. Internet is working on fixed line connection that is reaching homes. So there is still some connectivity available.

If government shut down internet service even on fixed line connection then there will be complete internet blackout in the country and in that situation we cant use bitcoin.

I think this is also one of limitation of bitcoin that we need internet to use it.  

Part of the solution to this is to have bitcoins existing in physical form or in form of cash. And you could have some sort authorized organization, more like Central Bank, printing out different denominations of bitcoins on papers or any reliable material for buying things without the internet.
The paper or material will have Bitcoin private keys sealed on it. Once the seal is scratched off the paper will nolonger be in circulation.
To check for counterfeits or fakes just sms some code from the papers to the printing organization.

The fluctuations of Bitcoin price shouldn't affect this too much. If you buy 0.0003 paper sats to buy some food stuff for example and the price of Bitcoin goes up, you will be be given change in Bitcoin or fiat by the food stuff seller.

People are free to try this in their countries.  

[Rupok]

Not everything has to be involve to Bitcoin.  I think it's a government issue that has nothing to do with Bitcoin. Although the internet is required to manage bitcoins.The country you live in may have government-run internet services down.But you can use other internet services.  A country's government will never shut down all the internet in their country, because today it is impossible to do anything without the internet.  Maybe there is some error in the government internet due to which the internet service is down now.I don't think it's permanently closed, maybe temporarily.Hope the government will solve this problem soon.

[vv181]

The point is in case of Internet blackout we have no access to bitcoin.

Well, if there's a total internet blackout, I think you'll have bigger things to worry about than not being able to access your Bitcoin.

Internet access is the basic access of human rights. Without it, there will be no 'information'. I do agree there is a bigger thing to worry about and be concerned about rather than things like Bitcoin. I did not mean to discredit Bitcoin, but if basic things like information access are limited and prevented, it has more urgency to be addressed and in regard to shifting the blame to bitcoin, it is rather not on point.

Others have given solutions about 'off-grid' solution to send bitcoin transactions, but in essence, it is not a bitcoin limitation since it is just how it works.