The Beginning of a Different Telecom Story

We’ve seen dozens of mobile network launches over the past two decades, many accompanied by the same script: competitive pricing, promises of broader coverage, and claims of next-generation speed. Few, if any, have questioned the ownership model itself.

Then came Uplift.

Announced in August 2025 and unveiled in the U.S. later that year, Uplift is a blockchain-powered, community-owned mobile network launched through a partnership between World Mobile and NBA champion Tristan Thompson. The premise is direct. Instead of top-down infrastructure controlled by telecom giants, the network is built—and partly owned—by the people who use it.

As editor of Global Brands Magazine, I’ve followed enough brand launches to know when something reaches beyond a marketing campaign. Uplift does.

Building the Network from the Ground Up

Uplift’s structure is deceptively simple. Subscribers pay $9.99 a month for unlimited data. But instead of their money going solely to corporate overhead, it’s channelled into building the network itself. Infrastructure is distributed across localised nodes, known as AirNodes, which are installed and maintained by individuals in homes, businesses and community spaces.

These AirNode operators are compensated for their participation. They don’t just provide service; they power it. The network scales organically, expanding as more communities join, with rewards staying close to where the value is created.

This is not an untested theory. World Mobile has trialled and launched similar community-powered models in Tanzania and Zanzibar, where data connectivity boosted local markets and enabled digital services in previously offline areas. In 2023, World Mobile reported a peak daily user count of over 16,000 through its Zanzibar deployment.

With Uplift, the intention is to replicate that success in digitally underserved urban areas, beginning with Cleveland, Ohio.

The Role of Tristan Thompson

Many may dismiss celebrity-supported projects as mere marketing. Nothing can be further from the truth. Tristan Thompson holds the title of Chief Digital Equity Officer at World Mobile. His appointment, confirmed in August 2025, owes its existence to his personal interest in addressing access issues, especially concerning inner-city communities.

One could say that public engagements of Mr Thompson also reciprocate the position. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, he took to the stage to talk about digital equity and also announce the Uplift partnership. His rockstar presence has given a great deal of attention to Uplift, especially among young audiences, against which a normal endorsement deal is usually not weighed.

What Defines Uplift as a Brand

Uplift’s branding avoids tech jargon and corporate abstraction. The name is simple and carries a clear association with improvement and elevation—socially, economically and digitally.

Its positioning rests on ownership. Uplift does not promise unlimited speed data or fancy loyalty programmes. Rather, it banks on participation. In its own words, the user becomes part of the network. Such framing distances it from other telecoms, where users are generally passive consumers.

The visual identity and communications of Uplift lean towards transparency and simplicity. The messaging consistently weaves back into community, fairness, and opportunity to earn through network participation. As a brand, Uplift extends higher trust to the users than most other brands.

A Global Model for a Local Problem

Globally, nearly 2.6 billion people remain unconnected to the internet, according to 2023 and 2024 data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Even in developed economies, high-speed mobile access can be patchy and unaffordable in marginalised communities.

Uplift does not claim to solve these problems in one sweep. Instead, it offers a practical alternative. By distributing infrastructure and ownership, it reduces the barriers to expansion. In areas where traditional providers may not see commercial incentive, Uplift sees opportunity through community participation.

This is especially relevant in countries where telecom monopolies still dominate. In those environments, Uplift’s model may not only be new—it might be necessary.

Scaling Questions and Market Outlook

There are challenges ahead. Telecom is one of the most regulated industries globally. Licensing, spectrum access, and infrastructure standards vary from country to country. Uplift will need localised strategies to meet regulatory expectations.

There’s also the question of scale. While the $9.99 unlimited data plan is appealing, the cost of deploying and maintaining decentralised infrastructure can be high. Ensuring uptime, service quality and competitive speeds will test both the technology and the community-based operational model.

World Mobile has not yet released detailed network performance benchmarks for Uplift. Nor have they disclosed the number of AirNodes deployed so far in the U.S. These figures will be important markers to track.

Why Uplift Deserves Attention

In a market long defined by large players, centralised control and opaque pricing, Uplift introduces a different equation. It’s part social infrastructure, part mobile service, and part community business model.

And while the vision may seem ambitious, the early foundation suggests strategic clarity. Uplift isn’t trying to take on telecom giants head-to-head. It’s offering an alternative path. One that might appeal to people who’ve never fully felt served by the system to begin with.

Thompson’s involvement adds visibility, but the brand will ultimately succeed or fail based on how well it engages local communities.

The next six months will tell us more. Until then, Uplift offers an example of what it looks like when infrastructure becomes participatory—and when telecom becomes a local story, not just a corporate one.