It still feels like yesterday, but it was just 2 months ago that the devastating hurricane Helene led to the deaths of over 230 people, and caused more than $53bn in damage to property and infrastructure in North Carolina, US.
Friends out in the US said the tragedy rocked the country, and the whole world was moved, hoping for a solution for the citizens on the ground in NC to rise quickly.
It seems that prayer was answered, with DePIN telecoms company World Mobile facilitating the rapid deployment of decentralized wireless network nodes on the ground, to restore mobile access for survivors without coverage in the wake of the destruction.
How Blockchain Delivered Lifesaving Connectivity After HurricaneHelene #CryptoDaily w/@WorldMobileTeam https://t.co/gK9v2w57xN
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 10, 2024
Like something out of a movie, World Mobile flew to remote areas on a helicopter provided by Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Ethereum and Cardano, to deploy its decentralized wireless nodes. The nodes, called “AirNodes”, provide cellular signal for end-users, direct-to-handset. AirNodes themselves require connection, called ‘backhaul’, which can be provided by a range of different technologies including fibre optic and satellite connectivity.
In remote locations, such as those impacted by Helene in North Carolina, World Mobile AirNodes are able to connect via Starlink, converting its satellite signal into cellular coverage, giving anyone within a mile radius of the node the ability to dial out to emergency services, contact loved ones, and allowing them to connect with the world again in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Micky Watkins, CEO, World Mobile Group said the following about the relief efforts:
“We are committed to supporting communities when they need us the most. The rapid deployment of our DePIN network in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene demonstrates the vital role that innovative connectivity solutions can play in disaster recovery.”
All of this was captured by an industry-grade film team who shadowed the World Mobile team as they deployed the nodes on the ground, and the result is worth a watch.
World Mobile have teamed up with X’s biggest Spaces host, Mario Nawful, who debuted the film, titled “Connecting the Disconnected” on his page yesterday. The hope is that sharing the documentary on such a large platform will shine a light on the positive impact that Web3 can have in the field of humanitarian relief, and also to show the ease of deployment and benefit to returning ownership to the community that Web3 and DePIN offer.
As per a recent press release, World Mobile’s mission is “democratizing global connectivity through its blockchain-based decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN)” - And whilst the disaster relief certainly seems like a strong use-case, World Mobile aren’t stopping there.
Recently, World Mobile passed the 500,000 daily users mark, and successfully completed the first 4 of its global AirNode drops, with the latest drop selling out in under 3 minutes. With AirNode operators earning up to $1,000 per month, future sales are expected to be a resounding success.
With a market size of over $1.7tn, and the quality of service for end users waning, it’s clear that the telecoms industry is due a shake up. Legacy mobile network operators are struggling to evolve in the wake of a shift toward data usage for VoIP and instant messaging, over calls and texts, and malpractice is rife, with user data selling and overcharging at record highs.
World Mobile looks well placed to shake up this behemoth market by enabling users to reclaim power over their communication with a fully private, secure, community-powered service which fairly shares revenue with those using and helping to build the network, and with new use cases coming to light constantly, 2025 looks like an interesting year for World Mobile.
Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.