A recent interview by @AltcoinDaily with Micky Watkins (World Mobile CEO) explores how World Mobile is leveraging blockchain and decentralized infrastructure to challenge traditional telecom models. Instead of relying on massive corporations, World Mobile puts connectivity in the hands of the people, using a decentralized sharing economy to expand coverage where traditional telecoms have failed.
Watch the full discussion: Crypto’s Next $100B+ Opportunity
What is World Mobile?
At its core, World Mobile is a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN), meaning people, not corporations, own and operate the infrastructure. Traditional telecom companies have connected half the world, but the other half remains offline due to outdated business models and high infrastructure costs.
By using blockchain, smart contracts, and community-driven incentives, World Mobile is flipping this model upside down, allowing individuals to become network operators and earn rewards for helping expand connectivity.
“The world is run by around 800 mobile network operators. They’ve done a good job connecting half the world—but the other half is still offline because of legacy business models. To solve this, you need to share the problem and share the rewards.” – Mickey Watkins, CEO of World Mobile
How Does World Mobile Work?
The network is built on three key roles that help deploy and maintain connectivity:
Hosts
- Provide locations for network equipment, such as rooftops, towers, or existing infrastructure
- Earn rewards for making their space available for AirNodes or other equipment
Operators
- Purchase and manage AirNodes (wireless access points)
- Work with hosts or be both the host and operator to maximize rewards
Scanners
- Travel to different areas, identifying signal dead zones and weak network coverage
- Help guide future expansion by providing real-time network insights
Together, these three groups create a fully decentralized and self-sustaining telecom network that grows based on real demand rather than corporate priorities.
Expansion and Growth: Where is World Mobile Now?
Growth in Emerging Markets
- 2024: Over 1.4 million customers, growing toward 2 million+ in Q1 2025
- Currently active in Asia and Africa, focusing on unconnected and underserved regions
The Push into the United States
Many assume telecom connectivity is only a problem in developing countries, but the U.S. has massive coverage gaps too:
- 30% of U.S. landmass has no connectivity
- 10–11% of the population lacks reliable service
- 40% of the U.S. population lives in areas with spotty or unreliable coverage
Even in major cities like Los Angeles, signal drops are common, but customers still pay their monthly bills without concessions. World Mobile aims to fix this broken system by giving people control over their own network.
“Even in the U.S., you experience signal drops all the time. You pay your bill every month, but you have no control over your connectivity. That’s what we’re here to change.” – Mickey Watkins
How Can You Get Involved?
There are three main ways to participate in World Mobile’s ecosystem:
Become a Customer
- Choose between a travel SIM for global connectivity or a U.S. SIM for nationwide service
- Own your data—unlike traditional telecoms, World Mobile gives users control over their personal information
Operate an AirNode
- Invest in an AirNode to provide wireless connectivity in high-demand areas
- Earn stablecoins or revenue share for every user who connects through your node
Run an EarthNode
- EarthNodes power the World Mobile blockchain, processing transactions and securing the network
- Limited to 1,000 total EarthNodes, with rewards paid in WMTX tokens and network fees
2025 Roadmap and the Future of World Mobile
Key Initiatives for 2025
- Hex Guardians – A program that decentralizes network expansion, allowing individuals to deploy connectivity where it’s needed most
- World Mobile Chain Mainnet Launch – Bringing the blockchain-powered telecom network to full functionality
- U.S. Expansion – Rolling out services in rural and underserved areas of the United States
- Strategic Partnerships – DITO (Philippines) is bringing 13 million customers to World Mobile. SEWI (China) is an official partner with 1.3 billion customers
Long-Term Vision
- Goal: 500 million to 1 billion customers in 5 years
- Bringing real-world revenue into crypto, creating a sustainable business model
- Challenging the centralized control of telecom giants
“AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile each have 70,000+ employees and thousands of trucks, yet they still can’t connect all of America. By enabling everyday people to help build the network, we can solve this problem together.” – Mickey Watkins
The Bigger Picture: Why Decentralized Telecom Matters
Most people don’t realize how much control they’ve given up just to stay connected.
Right now, traditional telecom companies:
- Own user data and sell it to third parties
- Charge high fees with no transparency on actual costs
- Offer no real incentives to users or communities
World Mobile flips this system:
- Users own their data and control how it’s used
- Costs are transparent, with revenue shared among network participants
- Anyone can participate in building the network and earning rewards
Is World Mobile Competing with AT&T and Verizon?
Not exactly. In fact, AT&T is a partner. Instead of replacing telecom giants, World Mobile is building “the people’s network,” redistributing telecom revenue back to individuals instead of large corporations.
“Telecom is a $3.2 trillion industry. Instead of a few companies controlling it all, we’re creating a system where everyone can benefit.”
Can DePIN and Blockchain Reshape Telecom?
The World Mobile model is already proving itself, with millions of customers and growing real-world adoption. Instead of relying on speculative tokenomics, the network is backed by real-world revenue and sustainable business models.
- Decentralized infrastructure gives power back to the people
- Revenue is shared with users, not just corporations
- Coverage expands where people need it, not where companies decide
With a billion people still unconnected and even developed countries suffering from unreliable coverage, the opportunity for crypto-powered telecom disruption is massive.
Watch the full discussion:
