- World Mobile is launching a global blockchain-based 5G network using high-altitude drones.
- The drones can deliver wireless internet coverage over areas up to 15,000 square kilometers each.
- This approach offers lower latency and costs than many satellite-based systems, according to World Mobile.
- The project faces regulatory and technical hurdles, including drone certification and endurance challenges.
- Competitors in the space include Starlink and Helium Mobile, though World Mobile targets areas with higher mobile user densities.
World Mobile is deploying a new blockchain-powered 5G network that uses hydrogen-fueled drones to provide direct wireless access to users worldwide. The company has partnered with Indonesian telecom provider Protelindo to target regions where traditional infrastructure is lacking.
Each drone operates at 60,000 feet in the stratosphere and offers coverage up to 15,000 square kilometers through 450 direction-controlled beams, said Charles Barnett, Chief Business Officer at World Mobile Group. Barnett told Cointelegraph the network’s latency is six milliseconds, enabling data delivery up to 18 times cheaper per gigabyte than traditional space-based alternatives.
Barnett explained, “This aerial network outperforms satellite-based telecommunications.” The flying platform leverages a decentralized approach, mixing centralized telecom infrastructure with distributed service providers to improve access in underserved regions.
The drones use hydrogen as fuel and are designed to remain airborne for nine days before landing for refueling. Each craft weighs around four tons, with a 56-meter wingspan. Operating above weather systems helps ensure stable conditions, but the drones still need protection from cosmic radiation and solar heat.
Meeting requirements from regulators, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the U.S. and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), poses additional challenges. Companies must gain permits for unmanned aerial vehicles and build craft that comply with official standards.
World Mobile is also competing with other decentralized and satellite-based providers. Helium Mobile delivers wireless service through local nodes and partnerships with established firms like AT&T. Starlink, run by Elon Musk‘s SpaceX, uses satellites to bring internet to remote locations but requires special hardware. Barnett noted that the new drone system is optimized for regions with higher mobile usage, while satellite networks best serve isolated communities.
The sky-based communications market is expected to reach $159 billion by 2030, according to Grand View Research.
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