World Mobile is launching a blockchain-based 5G network that uses drones to directly deliver connectivity services to users worldwide. The company has partnered with Indonesian telecom company Protelindo to create World Mobile Stratospheric, a project aimed at filling the gaps left by traditional global communication infrastructure.
World Mobile Group's Chief Business Officer Charles Barnett told Cointelegraph that the project uses hydrogen-powered drones flying at an altitude of 60,000 feet in the stratosphere, providing wireless coverage of up to 15,000 square kilometers per aircraft through 450 steerable beams.
Barnett stated that the performance of this aerial network surpasses satellite-based telecom services, with "total latency of only 6 milliseconds," allowing it to offer per GB service that is "18 times cheaper" than space infrastructure.
The company is trying to carve out a share in the $98.3 billion space-based communication market, which includes satellite and aerial communication platforms.
World Mobile has already established a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePin) based on the ground, combining traditional telecom infrastructure with independent distributed providers to extend services to underserved communities by patching signal blind spots.
Barnett told Cointelegraph that launching and maintaining a stratospheric communication platform faces several technical and regulatory challenges.
The company's goal is to keep each hydrogen-powered drone, with a wingspan of 56 meters and weighing 4 tons, airborne for nine days before it must land at designated refueling stations.
This means that the aircraft and its fuel source must be as lightweight as possible to achieve maximum fuel efficiency and maintain flight, while also ensuring a robust construction that can withstand weather conditions at lower atmospheric heights.
At 60,000 feet, the drones will be above weather systems. The winds in the stratosphere are also calmer compared to lower altitudes, where turbulence can become an issue.
However, even in the stratosphere, the drones must be protected from cosmic radiation, which can damage electronic equipment. Similarly, the sun-facing side of the drone will be subjected to heat and must dissipate it to prevent damage.
Meeting regulatory requirements set by civil aviation authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is also a challenge faced by such projects.
This includes obtaining permits for flying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and building each drone according to standards set by government aviation agencies.
World Mobile has several competitors in both decentralized wireless networks and space communication platforms.
For example, Helium Mobile is a decentralized protocol that combines a distributed network of wireless nodes with partnerships with established telecom companies like AT&T to expand wireless coverage and service signal blind spots.
Barnett told Cointelegraph that Musk's Starlink, which provides internet connectivity via satellite, is also competing for market share in the communication infrastructure space, although the two companies fill different market segments.
Barnett added that Starlink is better suited for serving remote areas with no cellular connectivity, while World Mobile Stratospheric is more appropriate for areas with higher mobile user density.
Barnett noted that satellite communication platforms also require the purchase of specialized hardware to connect.
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Original: “World Mobile Launches Drone-Based Decentralized Telecom Project”
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