The telecom world is experiencing some major shake-ups lately, and Roam is at the forefront of that change. Traditional telecom has been struggling to keep up with the new digital banking and fintech companies that are popping up left and right. Now, we get to see something fresh: a decentralized network that leverages cutting-edge tech like eSIM and OpenRoaming. This old industry is being reshaped, and it seems Roam is leading the charge.
The State of Traditional Telecom
Let's talk about the challenges that the traditional telecom players are facing. They've got a serious uphill battle. 5G is on the horizon, promising faster connectivity, but the current players are stuck in outdated business models that are starving their growth. These companies need to pour massive amounts of money into deploying 5G, but they're not seeing that investment come back from their usual revenue streams—voice calls and SMS. Why? Because those services are being replaced by free alternatives like WhatsApp and WeChat. Meanwhile, the effort to develop value-added services to diversify their income is plodding along at a snail's pace.
It's a hard time to be a telecom operator. They are making more revenue than the likes of Google and Facebook, yet their profitability margins are way lower. Net income is at a paltry 5%, and their market valuations reflect the same skepticism investors have towards their capital-heavy, low-growth strategies.
Stuck in rigid contracts and fixed fees, traditional telecom just can't offer the flexibility and customer experience that users crave. In contrast, internet platforms are thriving on accessibility and inclusivity, and they're light-years ahead in terms of growth. So yeah, it's clear that a change is needed.
How Roam is Turning Telecom Inside Out
Enter Roam, shaking things up by bridging Web2 and Web3 in a way that we haven't seen before. Did you know that more than 70% of global data traffic is still being carried over traditional WiFi networks because they’re cheap? That reliance on old infrastructure is a huge bottleneck. Roam is addressing this with self-developed WiFi routers using the latest protocols like WiFi 6 to offer faster, more reliable connections. They’ve also collaborated with the WiFi Alliance and Wireless Broadband Alliance to integrate OpenRoaming technology. That means seamless logins and encryption, enhancing user privacy.
Roam is using Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs) to keep things secure, thereby cutting out the need for centralized databases. With its decentralized OpenRoaming nodes, Roam is putting users in contact with millions of hotspots worldwide, all while encrypting their connections to keep data safe. Not only does this make free network access possible, but also secure, a necessity in today’s world.
Roam eSIM: The Key to Global Connectivity
Roam eSIM is another piece of the puzzle, allowing you to activate data plans on your own devices without the need for a physical SIM card. They cover over 160 countries, offering flexible plans designed for global use.
But here’s the kicker: it’s incentivized. Users can earn free eSIM data or Roam Points for participating in provider activities like Check-Ins. You can then burn those points for $ROAM tokens or trade them for other rewards in the Roam ecosystem. Plus, it has an instant free puzzle for Roam's open wireless network map. Global connectivity at your fingertips.
A Community-Driven Network
Roam is changing the game by offering free wireless access and incentivizing users to help build a decentralized network. When users upgrade or share their WiFi, they earn Roam Points, creating a cycle of sustainability that cuts out traditional user costs. They even collaborate with other ecosystems to reward users for sharing things like CDN bandwidth.
You can see the impact of this approach in their growth. By December 2024, Roam had over 1.5 million registered users and 900,000 self-built network nodes in areas so far-flung they include the Siberian Plateau, Northern Canada, and Alaska. The launch of their eSIM in October tipped the scale, ramping up registrations from 750,000 to over 1 million in less than 20 days. With more than 600,000 daily interactions validating the network, Roam achieves an engagement level that traditional telecom operators can only dream of.
In just a year, without significant marketing investments, Roam’s user base and node deployment have skyrocketed, making it one of the top DePIN projects. DePINscan.io has it ranked first, and traditional telecom operators are clearly paying attention.
Roam has ditched the old “pipe” model for an ecosystem where users are stakeholders in the network’s construction and optimization. Just look at their AMA on app design—300 suggestions in an hour? That’s the community in action.
What the Future Might Hold
So what’s next? Roam plans on integrating AI and DePIN technologies to enhance its decentralized network. It’s a gateway for AI training, allowing seamless interaction between hardware and AI. This could usher in a new wave of innovation.
Roam aims to become a foundational player in the DePIN ecosystem, providing the necessary infrastructure for other decentralized applications. As users join, Roam protocol could offer 3W data by geography for Web3 projects like SocialFi and GameFi, pulling in revenue from both its network nodes and growing user base.
In summary, Roam is fundamentally changing the telecom industry with its decentralized approach. It’s offering secure, global connectivity and innovative technologies while empowering users to co-build and optimize the network. As Roam continues to expand and embrace new technologies, it’s on track to become a leading player in decentralized telecom and drive widespread adoption.
