World Mobile is the first mobile network operator that is built on blockchain, renewable energy, hybrid network, and the sharing economy.
According to the United Nations (UN), nearly half of the world is still not connected online and the majority of these unconnected populations are in the developing nations of Africa.
But how does their concept for distributing the internet to millions who lack access in remote areas of East Africa work?
A shared economy model to deliver network infrastructure would enable improvements in efficiencies of network design and operation, as well as provide a more fluid delivery of connectivity to users of a network.
The use of blockchain in this model enables the removal of intermediaries and a layer of cost from the delivery mechanism. It also enables the rapid expansion of the network thanks to the transparency provided by smart contracts,
which allow the participants to have a provable and guaranteed rewards system.
This solution aims to address the affordability issue, as well as the more efficient use of network resources, to enable connectivity to be provided in a more distributed and decentralised manner.
Here is a quick breakdown of how the service, leveraging its $WMT token, is able to achieve this.
1. Infrastructure
The network is enabled based on 3 key infrastructures – earth nodes, air nodes, and aether nodes.
- Aether Nodes connect to existing legacy telecommunications network
- Earth Nodes are used to validate and secure the network. A simple computer with an internet connection can be enough for an Earth Node
- Air Nodes provide the actual connectivity and internet access to the local users by receiving the signal from the prior nodes and then providing wireless connectivity to the locals
According to the Mickey Watkins, CEO, World Mobile:
“Airnodes can be as simple as a solar panel, a pole and a wireless access point.”
– CEO, World Mobile
2. Sharing Economy
Any interested local business owner will eventually be able to purchase an air node for around $5,000 from the World Mobile Group to connect their local communities to the internet.
They will also be able to earn $WMT denominated rewards from transaction fees and as inflation rewards, according to the World Mobile white paper.
Transaction fees are paid to node operators in World Mobile Tokens ($WMT). In turn, operators, can then share the rewards with stakers who delegated their $WMT in their nodes.
3. Users
Each air node provides a reliable Wi-Fi internet to 500 to 700 people, and other ancillary utilities like public lighting through integrated solar-powered floodlights.
Users get to pay for internet services with their local currency.
Follow us on Twitter for the latest posts and updates
_______________________________________
