Tristan Thompson & World Mobile Launch Community Network - Uplift

NBA Star Tristan Thompson Launches Community-Owned Mobile Network, Uplift

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, NBA champion Tristan Thompson revealed a partnership with World Mobile, a global telecom firm. Together, they are initiating a community-based mobile network named Uplift.

Uplift will provide subscribers with unlimited data plans, beginning at a price point of $9.99 per month.

Leveraging Blockchain and DePIN Technology

The foundation of Uplift lies in blockchain technology and a decentralized physical infrastructure network, commonly known as DePIN.

Network expansion will be directly fueled by each subscription, contributing to improvements at the neighborhood level.

Empowering Local Communities

Individuals operating as “AirNode operators” – local hosts – will receive a share of the network’s revenue. This is achieved by providing essential community coverage.

The core concept behind Uplift is to disrupt the conventional, centralized structure of the $2 trillion telecom industry.

The aim is to enable both users and local operators to benefit from the value they collectively generate.

Thompson’s Vision for Connectivity

“My focus is on extending assistance to individuals who have shared similar life experiences to my own,” Thompson stated during the event.

“We are dedicated to delivering connectivity and unlimited data access at a significantly reduced cost.”

He further emphasized his commitment to improving opportunities within his community and providing hope for a brighter future.

Thompson expressed gratitude for his team’s understanding and support of this vision, highlighting their shared goal of assisting communities across America, particularly in urban centers.

Thompson’s Expanding Role in Tech

Beyond his celebrated basketball career, including an NBA championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thompson is a vocal proponent of innovation and inclusion.

Currently, he holds four executive positions within the web3 and fintech sectors.

He serves as the chief digital equity officer at World Mobile and the chief advisory officer at AxonDAO, an AI-driven medical research platform. This platform was inspired by his brother’s personal battle with epilepsy.

Thompson is also a co-founder of Basketball Fun, a web3 platform focused on tokenizing NBA players.

Additionally, he functions as the chief content officer at Tracy AI, an AI platform providing real-time sports analytics.

Driving Affordable Internet Access

This latest initiative, in collaboration with World Mobile, seeks to promote affordable, community-controlled internet access.

Proven Scalability and Success

World Mobile asserts that this model has been successfully tested and is readily scalable.

A pilot program in Reno, Nevada, demonstrated its effectiveness, with community hosts earning over $10,000 annually by extending coverage to underserved areas.

Uplift utilizes infrastructure that has already been validated through World Mobile’s existing U.S. deployments.

Real-World Impact and Emergency Response

“We successfully restored connectivity for approximately 20% of Reno’s population,” Thompson explained.

“Following the hurricane in North Carolina and Asheville, when Starlink encountered difficulties in providing connectivity, they contacted the World Mobile team.

Our team dispatched personnel via helicopter to Asheville, and we were ultimately responsible for re-establishing connectivity during the hurricane.”

Rollout and Future Expansion

The initial rollout of the new service will commence in Cleveland, Ohio, with plans for expansion to additional cities in 2026.

Addressing the Digital Divide

World Mobile highlights that over 50 million Americans are living at or below the poverty line, and a significant number lack access to affordable, high-speed data.

Uplift is designed to broaden access to internet services while ensuring that the wealth generated through mobile usage remains within the communities that contribute to its creation.