How is Roam changing the telecom landscape?
Roam is on a mission to overhaul how we think about telecom. Founded in 2021, this innovative company has created a decentralized WiFi network that aims to make access to connectivity seamless across the globe. With 1.8 million app users and 1.1 million self-deployed WiFi nodes spanning nearly 200 countries, Roam is challenging the norms of traditional telecom, which are often notorious for their rigid contracts and outdated technology. At Roam, user empowerment and community involvement are fundamental, and they are redefining global access to secure wireless networks.
What role do Web3 technologies play in Roam's vision?
Web3 technologies are at the heart of Roam's approach. By leveraging Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs), Roam ensures that privacy and data security are paramount for its users. These technologies allow for connections that are not only secure but also globally available, enabling users to actively engage in the creation and validation of a network that rewards them. This strategy effectively serves as a bridge, connecting the worlds of Web2 and Web3, and promoting mass adoption of crypto by providing tangible, real-world services.
How does Roam incentivize community involvement?
Roam’s philosophy is community-centric, which starkly contrasts the centralized approaches of traditional telecom. The company incentivizes participation by introducing community WiFi nodes as foundational elements for growth. The newly updated hardware, including the Rainier MAX60 and Baker MAX30 router models, serves not only as connectivity tools but as entry points for users to enhance the network's infrastructure with their contributions. Users can share OpenRoaming WiFi nodes, accumulate Roam Points, and play an active role in the network’s expansion, enjoying seamless connectivity in the process.
Furthermore, Roam launched their eSIM in September 2024, lowering yet another barrier to entry. By offering free global roaming data to users who utilize the network's hotspots, Roam creates an incentive for real-world engagement. The rollout of the eSIM led to a significant bump in app users, going from 750,000 to 1 million in less than a month, spotlighting the efficacy of this community-driven model.
What is Roam's strategy for building a decentralized telecom ecosystem?
Roam aims to create a decentralized telecom ecosystem through an integration of Web3 technologies with traditional telecom services. Its community of users, developers, and partners is engaged in crafting a decentralized future where individuals are empowered at the center, fundamentally changing global connectivity paradigms. This ambitious initiative has drawn serious attention from investors, with major funding rounds led by groups including Anagram, Volt Capital, and Samsung Next, affirming Roam's goal of fostering an inclusive, sustainable ecosystem.
A significant component of Roam's vision is its Loan Program with Huma Finance, which is geared to lower entry prices and encourage broader participation within the Roam ecosystem. This program offers financing options that make acquiring Roam miners more widely accessible. Users can buy miners, like the latest Rainier MAX60 and Baker MAX30, with a 30% initial payment in stablecoins, while Huma Finance covers the remaining 70%. The rewards from mining and early airdrops can be used to pay off the loans, and once repaid, future rewards are the user’s entirely.
Roam Growth, along with the Roam Network, forms the backbone of a broader initiative aimed at constructing a global Telecom Data Layer. This large-scale project will leverage Roam’s decentralized OpenRoaming network and DID+VC-based verification to facilitate easy sharing of data among people, devices, assets, and AI. By creating a cohesive Blockchain of Things (BoT) network, Roam is laying important groundwork for advancing crypto mass adoption.
The Roam Discovery program aims to unite DePIN projects in a collaborative ecosystem that fosters growth through resource sharing. With 20 innovative projects already involved, Roam Discovery is setting a new bar for creativity and synergistic growth in critical domains like Layer 1, PayFi, and AI. This program also provides access to Roam's extensive network, advanced tools, and engaged user community to bolster scalability and success.
In essence, Roam is not just a telecom service; it's a movement that enables users to take charge of their connectivity. By merging Web3 principles with actual telecom needs, Roam is paving the way for a new era of decentralized communication.
