NBA champion Tristan Thompson has partnered with global telecom company World Mobile to launch Uplift, a community-owned mobile network offering unlimited data plans from $9.99 per month.
Announced at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, Uplift uses blockchain and a decentralised physical infrastructure network (DePIN) to enable subscribers to both access affordable data and help expand local coverage.
Local “AirNode operators” earn revenue by maintaining network access points, disrupting the $2 trillion centralised telecom industry by sharing value with users and hosts.
“For me, it’s about, how can I help people that have walked the same life that I walked… providing connectivity and connection for unlimited data at a way lower cost… how can I help my community have a better tomorrow?” Thompson said.
Beyond basketball, Thompson holds leadership roles in tech and fintech, including chief digital equity officer at World Mobile and chief advisory officer at AxonDAO, an AI-driven medical research platform inspired by his brother’s epilepsy.
The model has shown success in Reno, Nevada, where community hosts earn over $10,000 annually providing coverage.
“When the hurricane happened in North Carolina and Asheville, we were actually the ones that brought connectivity back,” Thompson added.
Uplift will launch first in Cleveland, Ohio, with plans to expand in 2026. With over 50 million Americans lacking affordable high-speed internet, Uplift aims to keep mobile-generated wealth within local communities while increasing access.