Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) are forecasted by the World Economic Forum to become a $3.5 trillion industry by 2028. The opportunity is vast, and the logic is simple: people want to own and operate the infrastructure they rely on.

But today, DePIN projects often fall short. They are capped, fragmented, or narrow in scope. Participants may earn rewards and operate their own infrastructure, but they lack the tools, progression, and responsibility to build and grow the project over time. The result is stalled momentum and unrealized potential.

Telecom faces its own entrenched problems. Legacy operators have held decision-making power for decades, expanding connectivity haphazardly for profit. This has left communities, neighborhoods, and entire cities to grapple with poor, inconsistent connectivity, outdated infrastructure, and expensive contracts. And far from strengthening local economies, the value is driven upward to benefit corporations and shareholders.

What both sectors need is a decentralized network that combines scale, public ownership, and community-focused accountability.

That is where the World Mobile Network Builder platform comes in. Built by World Mobile, the first global decentralized mobile network, the Network Builder platform equips people to become telecom entrepreneurs – not just participants. For the first time, individuals, communities and businesses can take ownership of areas broken down into Hexes, each one spanning 252 km², where they can own and build their own telecom network. Hexes are sold at real-time online auctions. Winning an auction grants the winner a Hex NFT for their chosen Hex, a digital certificate that carries both rights and responsibilities.

Once an individual or business has won a Hex NFT in the World Mobile Network Builder auction, they become the Hex Operator of that specific Hex and get to grow the network in that designated area. This includes:

• Developing a business plan to deploy network infrastructure
• Coordinating the installation of physical hardware called AirNodes
• Acquiring and onboarding new customers to the network
• Engaging with the local community to build a network that serves their needs

In return for their active contribution, Hex Operators earn a share of the subscription revenue generated within their Hex. Their success is directly tied to the growth and adoption of the network they build. This is not a passive investment; it's an active, rewarding business endeavor.

This is decentralization with progression, scale, and accountability: the exact evolution that both DePIN and telecom require.

This is the World Mobile Network Builder platform.

What You Will Learn in This Guide

• Core Concepts
• Chapter 1: How to Research and Value a Hex
• Chapter 2: How to Register and Set Up Your Account
• Chapter 3: How to Place a Bid and Manage the Auction Process
• Chapter 4: The Hex Operator’s Responsibilities and Tools  
• Chapter 5: Affiliate Marketing: The Bridge Between the Builders and the Community
• Chapter 6: Agents and Hosts: Building Together Inside a Hex 

Core concepts

Every Hex Operator works with the same core set of tools and roles, so understanding them early matters. These concepts shape how responsibility is assigned, how authority is established, and how real-world activity contributes to network growth.

This chapter introduces the foundations you will use throughout the Network Builder journey. Each concept connects directly to decisions you will make as part of the Network Builder ecosystem.

Hexes: Defined operating areas

A Hex is a defined geographic area within the World Mobile network. It sets the boundary inside which network activity is planned, coordinated, and evaluated.

Each Hex is:

• Mapped directly to a real-world location
• Standardized in size at approximately 252 square kilometers
• Fixed using the H3 geospatial indexing system at resolution 5

All planning inputs, deployment activity, and reward calculations are evaluated at the level of the Hex.

When you view a Hex on the Opportunity Map or Auction Map, you are looking at a single operating unit with a clearly defined scope.

The Hex NFT: Your right to operate the network in a Hex

Winning an auction for a Hex grants you a Hex NFT.

The Hex NFT is an onchain digital certificate that confirms your right to operate network activity within that Hex. It links your wallet to the Hex and enables the Network Builder platform to assign responsibilities and tools to you as the Operator.

The Hex NFT serves three functions:

• Records ownership of operating rights for the Hex
• Enables access to Hex Operator tools and workflows
• Acts as the prerequisite for enablement and reward eligibility

The Hex NFT is transferable. Rewards, however, are tied to verified activity, enablement status, and ongoing compliance rather than ownership alone.

AirNodes: The physical network hardware deployed inside a Hex

AirNodes are the physical devices that deliver connectivity to people on the ground.

They create local signal coverage and enable access to the World Mobile network. Different AirNode types serve different deployment roles, but all contribute to usage data, coverage validation, and subscriber experience.

As a Hex Operator, your role is to coordinate where AirNodes are placed, whether it is on a rooftop or on the side of a residential building, how coverage expands, and how deployment aligns with demand inside the Hex. Installation and hosting AirNodes may be handled by others but planning and coordination remain the Operator’s responsibility.

Roles inside a Hex

Building a Hex involves a coordinated team effort. The Network Builder platform supports collaboration between several roles, each with defined responsibilities.

Understanding these roles helps you design a practical operating model for your telecom business.

Hex Operator

The Hex Operator is the owner of the Hex NFT and the primary decision-maker for that Hex.

Responsibilities include:

• Planning and executing activity inside the Hex
• Coordinating Agents and Hosts
• Driving subscriber acquisition
• Meeting enablement requirements
• Maintaining compliance over time

Each Hex has one Operator at a time. Their authority comes from the Hex NFT that they own.

Lead Operator

A Lead Operator is an experienced Hex Operator recognized for sustained operational activity.

Lead Operators share guidance, insights, and best practices with other Operators. Their role is advisory. They do not control other Hexes and do not have authority over other participants.

Agent

An Agent is a participant approved by a Hex Operator to support specific activities inside a Hex on the ground.

Agent responsibilities may include:

• Subscriber acquisition and local outreach
• Site identification and recommendations
• Installation and maintenance coordination
• Marketing or affiliate-led growth

Agents typically work under a revenue-share arrangement agreed directly with the Hex Operator.

Agent relationships remain in place if the Hex NFT changes hands, unless otherwise specified in the original agreement.

Host

A Host provides a physical location where an AirNode can be installed.

Hosts may be individuals or businesses. Applications are submitted through the platform with location details and access information.

Hex Operators review Host applications inside their Hex and approve placements based on deployment needs. Host quality directly affects where and how coverage can be established.

Affiliate

Affiliates support subscriber growth by referring new users to World Mobile phone plans using a unique affiliate code.

Affiliates may be:

• Hex Operators promoting adoption inside their Hex
• Agents supporting outreach efforts
• Independent participants referring subscribers across the network

Hex Operators can request custom affiliate IDs that provide enhanced tracking and rewards aligned with their Hex objectives.

Affiliate activity contributes to subscriber targets used during enablement.

Together, these roles create a structure that supports coordinated action, aligned incentives, and accountable network growth.

Now that we know what the core components of the Network Builder are, let us understand how to explore the Network Builder platform. In the next chapter, you will learn how to use platform tools to research Hexes, assess demand, and prepare for auction participation with a clear view of the responsibilities involved.