NBA Champion Tristan Thompson and World Mobile Launch Uplift, a Community-Owned Mobile Network
NBA champion Tristan Thompson announced at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 a strategic partnership with global telecommunications firm World Mobile to launch Uplift, a community-owned mobile network designed to provide affordable, unlimited data access starting at $9.99 per month. Built on blockchain technology and a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN), Uplift aims to disrupt the traditional $2 trillion telecom industry by enabling users and local operators to share in the value generated through network expansion and usage.
Uplift’s innovative model empowers neighborhood-level connectivity by involving local hosts, known as AirNode operators, who provide network coverage in exchange for a share of the revenue. Each subscription not only grants affordable data access but also contributes directly to expanding the network’s reach within communities.
“For me, it’s about, how can I help people that have walked the same life that I walked, and I think for us, what we’re doing is providing connectivity and connection for unlimited data at a way lower cost,” Thompson said onstage at TechCrunch Disrupt. “It’s like, how can I help my community have a better tomorrow? And that’s what this is about.”
Thompson’s involvement reflects his commitment to digital equity and inclusion, leveraging his platform beyond basketball into the realms of Web3 and fintech innovation.
Thompson’s Broader Role in Web3 and Tech Innovation
Beyond his NBA career and championship success with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thompson holds multiple executive roles in the tech sector. He serves as Chief Digital Equity Officer at World Mobile and Chief Advisory Officer at AxonDAO, an AI-driven medical research platform inspired by his brother’s epilepsy journey. Additionally, he co-founded Basketball Fun, a Web3 platform that tokenizes NBA players, and acts as Chief Content Officer at Tracy AI, which provides real-time sports analytics powered by artificial intelligence.
Pilot Success Demonstrates Scalability and Community Impact
World Mobile’s pilot program in Reno, Nevada, validated the Uplift model by enabling local AirNode operators to earn more than $10,000 annually through providing coverage in underserved areas. The initiative successfully restored connectivity to roughly 20% of Reno’s population. Thompson highlighted the network’s resilience during emergencies, recalling how World Mobile restored internet access in Asheville, North Carolina, following a hurricane when other providers like Starlink were unable to do so.
“When the hurricane happened in North Carolina and Asheville, Starlink went out there and tried to bring connectivity, and they weren’t able to, so they reached out to the World Mobile team, and we were able to get out there and send a couple of our guys on helicopters to fly in, and we were actually the ones that brought connectivity back to Asheville, North Carolina, during that hurricane.”
Expansion Plans Target Underserved U.S. Markets
Uplift is set to launch initially in Cleveland, Ohio, with further deployments planned in additional American cities throughout 2026. The service seeks to address the connectivity gap faced by over 50 million Americans living at or near the poverty line, many of whom lack access to affordable high-speed internet. World Mobile emphasizes that Uplift not only improves access but also ensures that the economic benefits of mobile usage remain within the communities that generate them, fostering local wealth creation.
FinOracleAI — Market View
The launch of Uplift by Tristan Thompson and World Mobile represents a significant shift in telecommunications towards decentralized, community-centric models. By leveraging blockchain and DePIN technologies, Uplift challenges the entrenched centralized telecom paradigm and offers a scalable, financially inclusive alternative.
- Opportunity: Affordable, unlimited data plans could expand internet access to millions of underserved Americans.
- Opportunity: Revenue sharing with local operators incentivizes community participation and sustainable network growth.
- Risk: Scaling decentralized infrastructure nationwide involves regulatory, technical, and competitive challenges.
- Risk: Consumer adoption depends on network reliability and trust in blockchain-enabled telecom services.
- Opportunity: Emergency response capabilities demonstrated by Uplift enhance its appeal in disaster-prone regions.
Impact: Uplift’s innovative approach has the potential to disrupt the traditional telecom market by fostering digital equity and local economic empowerment, positioning it as a promising model in the evolving telecommunications landscape.
