Latest news with #Protelindo
Crypto Insight
8 hours ago
- Business
- Crypto Insight
World Mobile launches drone-based, decentralized telecom project
World Mobile is launching a blockchain-enabled 5G network using drones to beam connectivity directly to users worldwide. The company partnered with Indonesian telecom firm Protelindo to create World Mobile Stratospheric, an initiative designed to bridge gaps left by traditional communication infrastructure worldwide. The project uses hydrogen-powered drones, flying at 60,000 feet in the stratosphere, to provide wireless coverage of up to 15,000 square kilometers per aircraft using 450 guidable beams, Charles Barnett, the chief business officer of World Mobile Group, told Cointelegraph. This aerial network outperforms satellite-based telecommunications, with '6ms of total latency,' allowing it to provide service 'up to 18 times cheaper' per gigabyte than space-based infrastructure, Barnett said. The company is attempting to take a slice of the sky-based communications pie, a $98.3 billion sector, which includes satellite and aerial-based communications platforms. World Mobile has already established a ground-based decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePin) that mixes traditional telecom infrastructure and independent, distributed providers to extend service to underserved communities by patching dead zones. Challenges to launching atmospheric-based telecommunication networks Launching and maintaining a stratospheric-based communication platform carries several technical and regulatory challenges, Barnett told Cointelegraph. The company is aiming for each hydrogen-powered drone, which has a 56-meter wingspan and weighs four tons, to remain airborne for nine days before it must land at a designated refueling station. This means the craft, and its fuel source, must be as light as possible to achieve maximum fuel efficiency and remain aloft, while also ensuring robust construction that can withstand weather conditions at lower altitudes in the atmosphere. At altitudes of 60,000 feet, the drones will sit above weather systems. The stratosphere also has calmer winds than at lower altitudes, where turbulence can be an issue. However, even in the stratosphere, the drones must still be protected from cosmic radiation, which can damage electronic equipment. Similarly, the side of the drone facing the sun will be bombarded with heat, which must be displaced to prevent damage. Meeting regulatory requirements outlined by civil aviation authorities like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is also a challenge for such projects. This includes acquiring permits to fly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and building each drone to standards outlined by government aviation agencies. World Mobile faces competition from the ground and space World Mobile has several competitors in both decentralized wireless networks and space-based communication platforms. Helium Mobile, for instance, is a decentralized protocol that combines a distributed network of wireless nodes and partnerships with established telecom companies like AT&T to extend wireless coverage and provide service to dead zones. Elon Musk's Starlink, which provides internet connectivity through satellites, is also competing for market share in communication infrastructure, although the two companies fill a different niche, Barnett told Cointelegraph. Starlink is more suited to deliver service to remote areas without any cellular connectivity, while World Mobile Stratospheric is suited to areas with a higher density of mobile users, Barnett added. The satellite communication platform also requires purchasing dedicated hardware for connectivity, Barnett said. Source:
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
World Mobile and Protelindo Enhance Global Connectivity with Stratospheric Connection
World Mobile, renowned for its innovative use of aerostats and blockchain-driven telecommunications infrastructure, has joined forces with Protelindo, Indonesia's largest digital infrastructure company, to launch an unprecedented stratospheric connectivity platform, World Mobile Stratospheric. The ambitious venture is centered around a pioneering hydrogen-powered, fixed-wing aircraft developed in close partnership with a renowned global aerospace leader. Flying at altitudes of up to 20,000 meters, the aircraft will utilize World Mobile Stratospheric's advanced radio technology, already proven capable of supporting up to 500,000 simultaneous direct-to-handset connections. Successful demonstrations in the UK, with British Telecom, in Europe with Deutsche Telekom, and across the Middle East have shown the potential of World Mobile Stratospheric's technology. The stratospheric aircraft promises dramatically lower costs, enhanced bandwidth, minimal latency, and a 99% reduction in environmental impact. This unique certified unmanned aircraft will provide a payload capacity and endurance in the stratosphere that will also offer an ideal capability for multiple applications in addition to telecoms. Micky Watkins, CEO of World Mobile, said, 'This partnership proves how blockchain can unlock new models for global connectivity. At the heart of it is WMTx, the engine that powers our sharing economy. It aligns infrastructure deployment with community participation and makes decentralized telecom not just possible, but scalable. By combining advanced aerospace technology with token-driven economics, we are building a network that connects more people, faster, and in a way that is economically and environmentally sustainable.' Protelindo expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, 'World Mobile's out-of-the-box thinking on delivering connectivity to difficult geographies makes them the perfect partner to bring World Mobile Stratospheric's exciting technology to the market. We believe Indonesia will benefit enormously from the unparalleled advances World Mobile Stratospheric brings to providing connectivity'. While blockchain technology still navigates skepticism and cautious adoption in traditional finance and telecom circles, World Mobile's approach demonstrates real-world utility and tangible revenue generation, making it increasingly difficult to ignore. With the United States serving as a critical testing ground—where 30% of the landmass remains disconnected, 11% of citizens lack reliable internet, and half the population experiences fragmented connectivity—World Mobile is positioning itself as both a disruptive challenger and complementary partner to established telecom providers. About Protelindo PT Profesional Telekomunikasi Indonesia ("Protelindo") is Indonesia's largest independent digital infrastructure provider, operating and managing a nationwide network of telecommunications towers, fiber-optic infrastructure, and digital connectivity solutions. Committed to accelerating digital transformation across the archipelago, Protelindo enables seamless connectivity and reliable communications for leading telecom providers and enterprises. With a robust portfolio of assets and an extensive presence throughout Indonesia, Protelindo is strategically positioned to support the growth of the country's digital economy. For more information, visit World Mobile Group is democratizing global connectivity through its blockchain-based decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN). Unlike traditional telecom providers, World Mobile operates on a sharing economy model, enabling individuals and businesses to run nodes, connect their communities, and earn rewards. Mike Blake-Crawford
Reuters
12-03-2025
- Business
- Reuters
I Squared, Macquarie vie for stake in Indosat's $1 bln fibre business, sources say
SINGAPORE, March 12 (Reuters) - Global asset managers I Squared Capital and Macquarie are among bidders vying for a stake in the fibre business of Indonesia's Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison in a deal that could value it at $1 billion, two people with knowledge of the matter said. Plans for the sale come as global investors' interest grows in digital infrastructure across Asia, lured by prospects for growth against the backdrop of rising demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing-based services. Indosat or IOH, Indonesia's second biggest mobile telecom company, could sell a stake of up to 75% in its fibre business asset with final bids due in April, said the sources, who both spoke on condition of anonymity as the matter is private. However, no final decision has been made and the stake size and timeline could change depending on market conditions, they added. Other contenders include Profesional Telekomunikasi Indonesia or Protelindo, Indonesia's largest independent owner and operator of telco towers, one of the sources said. IOH hired Citigroup (C.N), opens new tab to run the sale last year after expressions of interest from investors and companies keen to partner it to further grow the fibre optic telecoms business, Reuters reported in March 2024. IOH and Citi declined to comment. I Squared and Macquarie said no comment. Protelindo said it pursues a business strategy of growing both organically and inorganically, but declined to respond to market rumours. "All disclosures to the public will be made in accordance with applicable regulations," a Protelindo director, Anita Anwar, said on Wednesday. Larger peer Telkom Indonesia ( opens new tab appointed Goldman Sachs (GS.N), opens new tab and Mandiri Sekuritas to help it find a strategic investor for its data centre business, a company official told Reuters in August. In June, a consortium of U.S. investment firm KKR (KKR.N), opens new tab and Singapore Telecoms ( opens new tab said it would invest $1.3 billion in ST Telemedia Global Data Centres, one of Asia's biggest data centre providers. IOH, headquartered in Jakarta, saw net profit rise 9% on the year to 4.91 trillion rupiah ($298.66 million) last year, its financial statement showed in February. Revenue climbed 9.1% on the year to 55.9 trillion rupiah, driven by better performance by its cellular, and multimedia, data communication and internet businesses. ($1=S$1.3336) ($1=16,440 rupiah) Make sense of global markets with the Trading Day newsletter. Sign up here.
