In Zanzibar, World Mobile has successfully launched its commercial telecom network. Zanzibaris may now make use of mobile data that is 50% less expensive than the national average thanks to World Mobile’s formal launch in the East African region.
The release of World Mobile’s Android app on Google Play has helped the company go from a proof of concept to a business model. The Android app offers users a platform to generate a self-sovereign identity, streamline data bundle management, and access a variety of value-added services.
World Mobile CEO Micky Watkins said: “Today marks a significant milestone for World Mobile as we proudly announce the successful commercial transition of our network in Zanzibar. We are thrilled to welcome our first paying customers and embark on a journey to connect the unconnected, empowering individuals across Africa and beyond.”
As part of its dedication to creating an open sharing economy, World Mobile upgraded its network explorer, WMTScan, after switching to a commercial model. This update now displays the highest-earning AirNodes.
Zanzibar has had high demand for World Mobile’s reasonably priced mobile data service, with 1,000 new subscribers joining each week and a peak daily user count of 16,000 in May 2023. For the Tanzanian archipelago, which has a population of around 1.8 million, this is a noteworthy accomplishment.
The proof of concept network was first made accessible via World Mobile’s network of AirNodes as a test service that was subsidized. Due to the shortcomings of current suppliers, World Mobile decided to test its hybrid connection network in the semi-autonomous region. Tanzania has a 46% internet penetration rate, with metropolitan regions having the most connectivity. These difficulties have a detrimental impact on the economy because they make it difficult for enterprises to fully engage in the digital economy.
By first creating a sharing economy that would pay for the installation of telecommunications infrastructure in rural Africa and elsewhere, World Mobile hopes to solve an issue that has caught the attention of digital titans like Google and Facebook. The service offered by World Mobile offers connection at a price several times cheaper than that of conventional mobile network carriers.