The Spark device appears to outperform the Link in both price and features, but it’s only available in Pakistan—at least for now. Am I missing something here? It’d be great to see the Spark make its way to the US…
Hi @IronMaiden,
Both the World Mobile Spark and Link devices deliver connectivity, but they’re designed for pretty different purposes. Let me explain:
The Link AirNode
The Link is all about speed. It’s built for households or businesses that need high-speed internet—like for 4K streaming, gaming, or downloading big files. Businesses especially benefit because it can handle heavy usage like cloud services, conference calls, or point-of-sale systems. It’s a perfect fit for people or companies with high data demands.
Here’s how it looks financially:
- Cost: $749 upfront.
- Max Subscribers: 1 (just one “user” gets that dedicated connection - but it can then be split using a router).
- Earnings: Between $96 and $1,140 per year, depending on customer type and plan subscribed. As there is only 1 “paid plan” per Link, there is a luck factor involved.
- ROI: On average, it takes about 44 months (just under 4 years) to break even, though it can happen faster if you’re lucky enough to serve a business customer.
The Spark
The Spark is a completely different beast. Instead of focusing on speed for one user, it’s all about serving more people at once. It supports up to 25 private users or up to 50,000 public users a day in places like community hubs or public areas. Plus, it’s versatile—it works as both a private connection and a public WiFi hotspot, handling data, voice, and WiFi services.
Here’s the breakdown:
- Cost: Just $62.99 to get started.
- Earnings: $20 per year, with rewards set at $1.70 per month (not variable, this is what you will earn regardless of usage or number of customers)
- ROI: You’d recoup your investment in about 37 months (a little over 3 years).
What’s the Difference?
The Link is for high-speed, high-bandwidth needs—think businesses or homes with heavy usage. The Spark, on the other hand, is for sharing connectivity across a lot of people with lower data needs. Earnings wise, the Spark has a less risky profile due to the set monthly earnings per Airnode.
Why the Spark Isn’t in the US (Yet)
Right now, the US market leans more toward high-speed internet for individual households and businesses, which makes the Link a better fit. But the Spark has huge potential in public spaces and community projects, and it’d be amazing to see it introduced in the US someday.
Thanks for the insights!
Spark appears to provide a more predictable and stable revenue stream, making it a more reliable investment. In contrast, the ROI of Link depends very heavily on the type of customers it attracts and their chosen plans. With household customers on lower-tier plans, the returns may be quite small, but securing a high-tier business customer could deliver a really strong ROI… The luck factor is quite a big one. Personally, I plan to prioritize acquiring more Sparks in the future.
I agree @IronMaiden - unless you’re lucky with your Link, Spark seem easier to predict. IMO, I prefer the investment profile of the Portals & Apex so I’ll focus exclusively on these in the future.