NBA champion Tristan Thompson and World Mobile launch community-owned network Uplift

NBA champion Tristan Thompson has partnered with global telecom company World Mobile to launch Uplift, a community-owned mobile network offering unlimited data plans starting at $9.99 per month. Built on blockchain technology and a Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN), Uplift enables subscribers to contribute to local network expansion while “AirNode operators” — community hosts providing coverage — earn a share of the revenue. This model challenges the traditional centralized $2 trillion telecom industry by allowing users and local operators to share in the value they create, aiming to provide affordable connectivity especially to underserved urban areas. Thompson, known for his basketball career and multiple leadership roles in Web3 and fintech companies, emphasizes Uplift’s mission to help communities like those he grew up in by offering lower-cost unlimited data and fostering digital inclusion. World Mobile has piloted this model successfully in Reno, Nevada, where community hosts earned over $10,000 annually by expanding coverage. The network also demonstrated resilience by restoring connectivity in