Network Builder, the operating system of decentralized telecom growth, is ready to accelerate.
Over the past few weeks, several foundations of the ecosystem have evolved together. New phone plans have launched. The Network Builder Affiliate program is active. A new AirNode platform now supports Operators deploying infrastructure on the ground. The phone plans give Network Builder participants competitive plans to sell, the Affiliate program strengthens rewards and tracking, and the AirNode platform provides a scalable system that will host Hex Operator drops in the future.
These developments strengthen the environment in which decentralized telecom expansion can take place through Hex Operators, AirNode Operators, and local participants working inside the same system.
The culmination of these upgrades is a stronger, more effective Network Builder experience, beginning with Auction Batch 4 on Wednesday, March 11.
Entering an auction with confidence requires a clear understanding how Hexes are evaluated, how bidding works, and what responsibilities follow after a Hex is secured.
The Network Builder Academy exists to provide that understanding.
The Academy is the most comprehensive resource available for learning how the Network Builder works and how participants can take their first steps toward telecom entrepreneurship. Across seven chapters, it explains how to research Hexes, prepare your account, navigate Auctions, operate a Hex, acquire subscribers, and build a sustainable telecom business within the system.
This guide introduces each chapter so you can quickly identify where to focus your attention as Auction Batch 4 approaches.
Core concepts
Before exploring the chapters of the Academy, it is useful to understand the building blocks of the Network Builder system.
A Hex is a defined operating area (252 x 252 square kilometres) within the Network Builder. Each Hex represents a geographic opportunity where connectivity can be expanded and subscribers can be served, in exchange for reward opportunities.
The Hex NFT represents the right to operate the network inside that Hex. Winning a Hex in an auction enables a Hex Operator to coordinate infrastructure deployment and develop connectivity services locally.
AirNodes are the physical network infrastructure deployed within a Hex. They deliver connectivity directly to people on the ground and form the infrastructure layer that powers the network.
Inside every Hex, several roles contribute to network growth. These include Hex Operators, Agents, Hosts, Affiliates, and AirNode Operators who deploy infrastructure that supports coverage expansion.
For a complete understanding of the roles within the Network Builder ecosystem as well as an overview of the philosophy that powers the Network Builder, see the full ‘Introduction’ chapter here:
Introduction: The World Mobile Network Builder Academy.
Chapter 1: How to research and value a Hex
The first step toward participating in Auction Batch 4 is understanding the opportunity inside each Hex.
Chapter 1 introduces the Opportunity Map, the primary tool used to explore Hexes across the network. The map allows you to zoom into specific locations and understand the context surrounding a Hex to help you plan your bidding strategy.
Viewing Hexes through the map’s 3D View provides additional insight into the Hex’s earning potential in comparison with other Hexes. Participants can also add Hexes to a Watchlist, enabling them to track areas that interest them as auction activity unfolds.
Note: Maintaining a thought-out Watchlist is key to your participation in Auction Batch 4.
To mark the start of Auction Batch 4, one eligible participant will win a Hex from their Watchlist.
To enter:
- Save three or more Hexes to your Watchlist
- Secure a Hex during the auction
See full terms and conditions here.
The chapter also explains the starting bid formula that governs the starting bids for each Hex, to bring further clarity to the platform.
To explore these tools in detail and understand how to evaluate Hexes before bidding, read the full chapter here:
Chapter 1 – How to Research and Value a Hex.
Chapter 2: How to register and set up your account
Before bidding in an auction, participants must configure their accounts correctly.
Chapter 2 explains how to connect your wallet, create a World Mobile account, and complete the checks required to participate in the system. These steps ensure that participants are able to hold a Hex NFT and take part in auctions.
The chapter also addresses how participants should structure their account setup. Some participants may choose to participate as individuals, while others may operate through a business structure depending on their plans as Hex Operators.
Notifications and Watchlist features are also explained in this chapter. These tools equip participants to track Hexes they are interested in and receive updates as auction activity progresses.
To understand the full setup process and prepare your account correctly before bidding begins, read the full chapter here:
Chapter 2 – How to Register and Set Up Your Account.
Chapter 3: How to place a bid and manage the Auction process
Once preparation is complete, the next step is participating in the auctions themselves.
Chapter 3 explains how the Network Builder Auction process works. The system moves through three stages: discovery, release, and expansion. The Discovery Phase lasted from December 2025 to January 2026, culminating in the first Batch of Network Builder Auctions. We are now in the Release Phase.
Understanding this sequence helps participants see how Auctions fit into the broader Network Builder platform.
The chapter also walks through the tools a bidder can use during bidding. Participants learn how to navigate the Auction Map, interpret auction statuses, monitor auction batches, and place bids as opportunities appear.
Different bidding outcomes are also explained, including competitive bidding scenarios and Buy Now opportunities. A sample bidding war illustrates how auctions can evolve as multiple participants compete for the same Hex.
To understand how auctions function and how to participate confidently, read the full chapter here:
Chapter 3 – How to Place a Bid and Manage the Auction Process.
Chapter 4: The Hex Operator’s responsibilities and tools
Winning a Hex marks the beginning of a new stage within the Network Builder system.
Chapter 4 explains what happens after an auction closes and what responsibilities apply once a participant becomes a Hex Operator. The chapter introduces the Network Builder progression system, which guides Hex Operators through levels that unlock progressively more reward opportunities.
This progression begins with the Enablement milestone. Hex Operators need to be ‘Enabled’ before they can begin earning rewards within the Network Builder. The main Enablement goal is to acquire 1,000 new phone plan subscribers per Hex owned.
Following Enablement, Hex Operators must coordinate infrastructure deployment, work with AirNode Operators and Hosts, and begin expanding the subscriber base inside their Hex.
The chapter also explains the full rewards framework, outlining how Hex Operators earn rewards as the network grows and subscribers join the ecosystem.
To understand the responsibilities and tools available after winning a Hex, read the full chapter here:
Chapter 4 – The Hex Operator’s Responsibilities and Tools.
Chapter 5: Affiliate marketing and subscriber growth
As is evident from the Enablement goal, acquiring subscribers is one of the central drivers of growth within the Network Builder system.
Chapter 5 explains how the Network Builder Affiliate program connects Hex Operators with the communities they serve. Through the Affiliate dashboard, participants can track subscriber activity and understand how subscriber growth translates into rewards.
Reaching the first 1,000 subscribers is an important milestone for Hex Operators, and the chapter provides strategies for building early subscriber momentum.
These strategies focus on community engagement, local partnerships, and practical approaches that convert network availability into active subscribers.
To explore the Affiliate system and learn how subscriber growth supports network expansion, read the full chapter here:
Chapter 5 – Affiliate Marketing: The Bridge Between the Builders and the Community.
Chapter 6: Agents and Hosts
Not every participant in the Network Builder ecosystem operates a Hex.
Chapter 6 introduces two additional roles that support network expansion within a Hex: Agents and Hosts.
Agents help grow the subscriber base by connecting people in their communities with the network. Hosts provide physical locations where AirNodes can be deployed, enabling Hex Operators and AirNode Operators to expand coverage more effectively.
These roles empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to participate in the Network Builder without having to purchase a Hex NFT, while still contributing to the growth of connectivity locally. The chapter explains how Agents and Hosts contribute, a as well as how participants can apply to become Agents or Hosts.
To understand how these roles contribute to network expansion, read the full chapter here:
Chapter 6 – Agents and Hosts: Building Together Inside a Hex.
Chapter 7: Preparing and submitting a business plan
Operating a Hex ultimately means running a telecom business.
Chapter 7 focuses on the business planning required for Hex Operators to launch and sustain operations. It outlines the key elements that should be included in a business plan and the factors Hex Operators must evaluate before deployment begins.
This includes planning how to acquire subscribers, estimating demand within the Hex, coordinating deployment with AirNode Operators and Hosts, and determining how operational costs will be funded over time.
The chapter also explores potential revenue streams, go to market strategies, and financial considerations that shape long term sustainability. Topics such as projected revenue, profitability, and tax compliance are addressed so Hex Operators can build structured and realistic plans.
To learn how to build a complete operational plan as a Hex Operator, read the full chapter here:
Chapter 7 – How to Prepare and Submit a Business Plan.
Learn, prepare, build– Auction Batch 4 begins Wednesday
The Network Builder Academy is an evolving resource. As the Network Builder continues to grow and new features, mechanics, and tools are introduced, additional chapters will continue to provide guidance on the Network Builder opportunity.
Put simply, the Academy is the most complete resource for anyone preparing to participate in the Network Builder.
Network Builder Auction Batch 4 launches Wednesday, March 11.
Equip yourself with the knowledge you need, prepare for auctions, and take a step towards entrepreneurship within the operating system of decentralized telecom.
