How World Mobile’s AirNode Sales Platform launch in Reno shines a new spotlight on the Super Bowl state

This year’s Super Bowl—the first one to ever be held in Las Vegas—not only put the spotlight on the state of Nevada, but also on mobile connectivity thanks to a particularly star-studded commercial.

On the iconic ad front, Verizon stole the show this year. Not only did the telecom giant spend a reported $30 million on its game-day ad built around pop megastar Beyoncé—but its commercial coincided with a surprise drop of new music from the artist to tout its “unbreakable” internet coverage.

The only problem? A good number of households in the state where the Super Bowl was hosted likely weren’t able to see it at all.

According to a report by McKinsey, roughly 24 million people in the U.S. lack access to basic connectivity, while many more cannot connect to the internet due to gaps in digital equity and literacy. And Las Vegas’s Nevadan neighbour city of Reno is no exception. Despite being the state’s third largest city according to population, the region still experiences massive gaps in mobile and internet connectivity—a fact that seems astounding given the technological standing of the U.S.

The U.S. digital divide is still a remarkably prevalent issue across both rural and urban areas that continue to grapple with connectivity chasms. Although it may seem trivial, the rising digitization of society and commerce means that a lack of connectivity can easily translate into reduced economic opportunities and an overall decline in quality of life.

To help close the connectivity gap and ensure every person in the Super Bowl’s home state can watch next year’s game, World Mobile has announced the launch of its AirNode Sales Platform following a successful trial run in Reno, Nevada.

To examine the connectivity challenges, World Mobile launched its pilot project in Reno in late 2023 and immediately uncovered a distinct lack of coverage—even in hotspots such as the city’s airport or downtown. Likewise, Reno’s widespread connectivity issues are exacerbated in indoor settings, with signals becoming significantly weaker inside buildings throughout the city.

As the world’s first global mobile network powered by blockchain technology and the sharing economy, World Mobile’s rollout in Reno follows months of research and testing in the city that successfully illustrated its solutions to close connectivity gaps across the U.S. through community-based connectivity and its decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN). The launch of AirNode sales accelerates World Mobile’s decentralized U.S. wireless network deployment, which enables users to earn rewards by connecting their local community.

“With our AirNode Sales Platform, we are revolutionizing the way people access and provide connectivity,” says Micky Watkins, CEO of World Mobile on the launch. “Our platform allows anyone to purchase, host, or operate an AirNode, and earn rewards for doing so. This is a win-win situation for everyone involved, as it lowers the barriers to entry and increases mobile network coverage and quality. Reno is our first destination, but we have big plans to scale up and reach more regions in the future.”

But what exactly is an AirNode? According to World Mobile, AirNodes are radio devices that establish access to its network for calls and data, empowering owners to connect their community to the decentralized wireless network. Recently securing licensed spectrum across California, Nevada, New Mexico, and Utah has enhanced the network’s reach and functionality throughout the country, especially in areas facing infrastructural challenges.

AirNode owners earn rewards through network usage utilizing Band 71 and Band 48 (CBRS) spectrum for a dynamic hybrid network that ensures high-speed, long-range connectivity in rural and urban areas. Individuals can actively participate by becoming AirNode Operators—earning rewards through purchasing, hosting, and operating AirNodes on their properties.

They can also participate by offering the opportunity to host an AirNode at their property (AirNode Hosts), without purchasing the infrastructure. This enables users to earn rewards remotely through a matching system that pairs registered AirNode Hosts with individuals from anywhere worldwide who wish to become Remote AirNode Operators.

World Mobile’s trial indicated the consistent demand for high-speed connectivity in Reno, with one AirNode garnering 130,000 network-attach attempts in one month alone. Likewise, another test showed that on a single rooftop with just one radio and one sector, an astonishing 10,440 unique handsets attempted to connect to the World Mobile network within 24 hours.

The general AirNode Sales Platform launch now arrives after gathering critical insights and feedback thanks to World Mobile’s comprehensive connectivity mapping and on-the-ground results from its community members and app users utilizing its Scan For Points feature. A continued rollout in Reno includes a first batch of 20 AirNodes available for purchase, with future batch releases marking a progressive phase in telecom innovation and connectivity.

AirNodes, compatible with CBRS or Band 71, are purchasable at airnode.worldmobile.io, with plans for expanded locations across the U.S. and international markets, in addition to a wider range of hardware options in the coming months.

World Mobile also made this announcement while attending the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona where it received the GSMA Foundry Excellence Award for its Mozambique aerostat deployment. This recognition demonstrates World Mobile’s dedication to solving the challenges of global under-connectivity through disruption in the mobile industry.