World Mobile is preparing to deploy a blockchain-powered 5G network delivered by hydrogen-fueled drones, in partnership with Indonesian telecom giant Protelindo.
The initiative, called World Mobile Stratospheric, aims to bridge connectivity gaps that traditional infrastructure cannot reach, particularly in underserved regions.
Flying at an altitude of 60,000 feet, each drone will be able to cover up to 15,000 square kilometers using 450 steerable beams, with an ultra-low latency of just six milliseconds. This performance could make data delivery up to 18 times cheaper per gigabyte than satellite-based systems, according to the company.
The satellite and aerial telecom sector, currently valued at $98 billion, is forecast to grow to $159 billion by 2030. World Mobile plans to tap into this growth by combining stratospheric aircraft with its existing decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePin), which already integrates traditional telecom setups with community-run nodes to fill dead zones.
Each hydrogen-powered drone will have a 56-meter wingspan and stay airborne for up to nine days before needing to land for refueling. While operating above weather systems avoids turbulence, the drones will still need protection from cosmic radiation, heat exposure on the sun-facing side, and strict compliance with aviation safety regulations from authorities such as the FAA and EASA.
If successful, the project could drastically reduce the cost of delivering high-speed internet, making it more accessible in emerging markets where traditional telecom infrastructure is either too expensive or impractical to build. Affordable connectivity could also open up new opportunities for blockchain-based financial services, education platforms, and decentralized applications in regions currently excluded from the global digital economy.
The company has not disclosed an exact launch date but confirmed that prototype testing is underway. Once regulatory approvals are secured, initial deployments will begin in select regions, with plans for a global rollout in phases. If World Mobile meets its targets, stratospheric 5G drones could redefine how connectivity is delivered – merging decentralization, blockchain technology, and high-altitude engineering into one disruptive platform.
