Tristan Thompson & World Mobile Launch Uplift Network
▼ Summary
– Tristan Thompson announced a partnership with World Mobile to launch Uplift, a community-owned mobile network offering unlimited data plans starting at $9.99 per month.
– Uplift uses blockchain and decentralized infrastructure to challenge the telecom industry’s centralized model by allowing users and local operators to share in the value created.
– Local hosts, called “AirNode operators,” earn a portion of network revenue by providing community coverage, with a successful pilot in Reno where hosts earned over $10,000 annually.
– Thompson, an NBA champion, holds multiple C-suite roles in web3 and fintech and aims to provide affordable connectivity to underserved communities, starting with Cleveland and expanding in 2026.
– The network addresses the lack of affordable high-speed data for over 50 million Americans near the poverty line, ensuring wealth from mobile usage stays in local neighborhoods.
At the recent TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 conference, NBA champion Tristan Thompson revealed his collaboration with global telecommunications provider World Mobile to introduce Uplift, a community-owned mobile network. This groundbreaking service will provide unlimited data plans beginning at just $9.99 per month, aiming to make connectivity more accessible and affordable.
Uplift is constructed using blockchain technology and a decentralized physical infrastructure network, or DePIN. Each subscription purchased contributes directly to expanding network coverage at the neighborhood level. Local hosts, referred to as “AirNode operators,” will receive a share of network revenue by supplying coverage to their communities. The fundamental goal of Uplift is to disrupt the $2 trillion telecommunications sector by shifting away from centralized control and allowing users and local operators to benefit financially from the value they help generate.
Thompson expressed his motivation during his presentation, stating, “My focus is on helping people who have shared similar life experiences. We are providing unlimited data connectivity at a much lower price point. It’s about giving my community a better future, and I’m grateful to work with a team that shares this vision. We aim to support people across America, especially in underserved urban areas, and offer them hope.”
While widely recognized for his basketball achievements, including an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thompson is also a vocal proponent of innovation and digital inclusion. He currently holds four executive positions within the web3 and financial technology sectors. At World Mobile, he serves as Chief Digital Equity Officer, and he is also Chief Advisory Officer at AxonDAO, an AI-driven medical research platform inspired by his brother’s experience with epilepsy.
Additionally, Thompson co-founded Basketball Fun, a web3 platform that tokenizes NBA players, and holds the role of Chief Content Officer at Tracy AI, a real-time sports analytics platform powered by artificial intelligence. Through this new partnership with World Mobile, Thompson intends to champion affordable, community-driven internet access.
World Mobile reports that this model has already been tested and scaled successfully. A pilot program in Reno, Nevada, allowed community hosts to earn over $10,000 per year by providing service in areas with limited connectivity. Uplift will utilize infrastructure that has been validated through World Mobile’s existing U.S. deployments.
Thompson shared a real-world example, explaining, “We restored connectivity to roughly 20% of Reno. When a hurricane struck Asheville, North Carolina, and Starlink couldn’t establish service, they contacted the World Mobile team. We dispatched personnel by helicopter and successfully restored connectivity to the area during the crisis.”
The Uplift network is scheduled to begin its rollout in Cleveland, Ohio, in the near future, with expansion into additional cities planned for 2026. With more than 50 million Americans living at or below the poverty line, and many lacking affordable high-speed internet, Uplift’s mission is to close this digital divide. The network ensures that the economic benefits created by mobile usage remain within the local communities, fostering both connectivity and local economic resilience.
(Source: TechCrunch)
