World Mobile Launches Stratospheric Drone Network

Akash Kumar

• August 14, 2025
• ⋅
• 2 min read

World Mobile has unveiled a groundbreaking telecommunications initiative, World Mobile Stratospheric, combining blockchain technology with aerospace innovation to deliver affordable, high-speed wireless connectivity. In partnership with Indonesia’s Protelindo, the project employs hydrogen-powered drones flying at 60,000 feet to provide direct-to-handset 5G coverage, aiming to bridge connectivity gaps in underserved and hard-to-reach regions.

Innovative High-Altitude Connectivity

Each drone boasts a 56-meter wingspan and weighs four tons, designed for extended flight durations of up to nine days before refueling. Operating in the stratosphere, these drones avoid atmospheric turbulence and weather disturbances, offering ultra-low latency of about 6 milliseconds. Using 450 steerable beams, each aircraft can cover an area of up to 15,000 square kilometers. Compared to traditional satellite services, this approach delivers connectivity up to 18 times cheaper per gigabyte.

World Mobile integrates this aerial network with its Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN), combining ground-based telecom infrastructure and independent node operators in a sharing-economy model. This hybrid system extends reliable mobile coverage to previously unserved areas without solely relying on centralized infrastructure.

Technical and regulatory challenges include ensuring drone durability against cosmic radiation and heat exposure, and securing permits from aviation authorities such as the FAA and EASA.

Market Impact and Future Potential

The sky-based telecom sector is poised for robust growth, with the overall market valued at around $98.3 billion and satellite communications expected to reach $159 billion by 2030. World Mobile Stratospheric competes with notable players like SpaceX’s Starlink, focusing on densely populated areas where mobile device connectivity demand is high. Unlike Starlink, which requires dedicated hardware, World Mobile’s service works directly with existing mobile devices.

Field tests in the UK, Europe, and the Middle East have validated the platform’s ability to support up to 500,000 simultaneous connections with increased bandwidth and lower environmental impact, up to 99% less than conventional telecom methods. Beyond telecommunications, this platform may enable applications in disaster response, environmental monitoring, and advanced sensor networks.

World Mobile Stratospheric represents a pioneering convergence of blockchain and aerospace to redefine global connectivity. By offering cost-effective, high-capacity, and sustainable wireless access from the stratosphere, this project promises to narrow the digital divide andserve as a model for future decentralized telecom infrastructure worldwide. Its innovative approach could transform how underserved regions gain access to critical communication services.

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