World Mobile, a blockchain-powered telecommunications firm, is conducting a pilot project in partnership with Vodacom Mozambique to bring internet and mobile services to remote regions in Mozambique, according to Coindesk.

The firm is using a tethered aerostat, a lighter-than-air balloon, to deliver the telecom service. Since the project's initiation in November, the aerostat has successfully connected 100,000 users, with the first call taking place on December 19th. Positioned 300 meters above ground, this unpowered aerostat is the world's first commercial aerostat and offers connectivity comparable to high-speed fiber optics connections.

Internet access for remote regions

World Mobile's CEO, Micky Watkins, highlights the cost-effectiveness and swift deployment of this technology, “This technology is not just cost-effective compared to legacy telecom infrastructure but also quick to deploy, making it ideal for remote regions,” he said. According to the firm, it currently has 60,000 paying customers in Africa.

Vodafone's subsidiary, Vodacom Mozambique, supports World Mobile with spectrum and resources, enabling them to deliver telecom services via the aerostat.

World Mobile has previously utilized unused television spectrum and Starlink technology in field tests conducted in Kenya, Mozambique, and Nigeria. These successful tests have paved the way for the Mozambique project. Additionally, the company has collaborated with IOHK to establish mesh networks in Tanzania.

A blockchain-driven approach

World Mobile uses a model that rewards AirNodes operators with fiat currency and offers World Mobile Tokens (WMT) to blockchain node operators, stakers, and users staking for discounted services on their decentralized infrastructure network built on Cardano, fostering stakeholder incentives and ecosystem growth.

In August, World Mobile launched its app on Google Play, making it available to users in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Tanzania, and Zanzibar.

The company launched its app in various countries, including the US and Tanzania, on August 22, and it is also available in Zanzibar.