Interview with Mickey Watkins, CEO of World Mobile
In this interview with Mickey Watkins, CEO of World Mobile, we discuss their journey from starting with just two nodes in Zanzibar to expanding their sharing economy concept across continents, including the USA. We also highlight the importance of privacy in mobile networks.
Key Takeaways
- World Mobile has grown significantly since its early days, with about 12 people now working for them.
- They began by setting up nodes in Zanzibar and expanded into Nigeria, Kenya, and Mozambique, creating a successful sharing economy model.
- In Pakistan, World Mobile achieved pure adoption of a sharing economy, with no capex or opex from their side.
- They are now focused on bringing their sharing economy concept to the USA, where an estimated 60-70 million people are underserved, and 10% of the population is completely unconnected.
- They have developed an innovative approach to expanding their network, including using data from their mobile app to identify connectivity gaps and deploy nodes accordingly.
- World Mobile is emphasizing privacy as a fundamental right, allowing users to control and even monetize their data. They believe this should be the new standard for mobile network operators.
- World Mobile infrastructure allows native connectivity and seamless transitions.
- World mobile complements mobile operators, not competes with them.
- Filling connectivity gaps can make you a significant mobile network operator.
- World mobile offers deals for wholesale access through their nodes.
- World mobile aims to bridge the digital divide and empower rural areas.
- The speaker grew up in an area with limited internet access, highlighting the importance of connectivity.
- Connecting the unconnected is a crucial mission for World mobile.
- World mobile is seen as a project with the potential to change the world for the better.
