The year of DePIN has arrived, Roam is disrupting global wireless connectivity from the ground up

In the post-pandemic era, more and more remote workers are choosing to become digital nomads. Free from the constraints of office work, digital nomads can choose to stay on Aruba in the Caribbean for 90 days, then live for a year in Cape Verde on the west coast of Africa. This "nomadic lifestyle" is becoming a trend in emerging fields, and it has already become the norm in the Web3 space.

For digital nomads, regardless of where they roam, finding an ideal work environment and ensuring a smooth internet connection is the top priority. The open global wireless network provided by Roam will undoubtedly become the best choice for digital nomads.

Roam network node located in Cape Verde

Global OpenRoaming™ Network Coverage Below 1%

WiFi networks in public places such as hotels or cafes are often not very convenient for most users, especially when arriving in a new place. Most public WiFi networks require cumbersome connection steps, including repeated logins, reconnections, sharing passwords, and redundant registrations. Additionally, public WiFi networks face issues such as low security and privacy leaks, making them quite off-putting.

To create a seamless, secure, and hassle-free Wi-Fi network, in 2020, the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) promoted a technical standard called OpenRoaming™, aimed at providing seamless connectivity for users roaming between different WiFi networks. Unlike traditional public WiFi, OpenRoaming™ eliminates the need for users to log in or authenticate each time they connect to a new Wi-Fi network. Once users authenticate on any network that supports OpenRoaming™, their devices can automatically connect to other networks participating in OpenRoaming™ certification, achieving true seamless roaming. At the same time, the Passpoint technology used by OpenRoaming™ ensures that all data transmissions are encrypted, with a security level comparable to cellular data networks. This innovation not only enhances the convenience and security of connections but also minimizes the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.

Faced with the immense appeal of secure and seamless WiFi networks, the OpenRoaming™ technology proposal received a positive response from a number of tech giants in 2020, including Cisco, Google, AT&T, Boingo, and Samsung, who promoted OpenRoaming™ technology in various ways. Currently, there are over 4 million OpenRoaming™ network nodes worldwide, but compared to the 700 million public WiFi nodes globally, OpenRoaming™ accounts for a very small share of only 0.6%, far from achieving its scale efficiency.

Roam: Driving the Web3 Transformation of Traditional WiFi Networks

As the only Web3 IDP project among the 15 companies in the OpenRoaming™ alliance, Roam integrates traditional OpenRoaming™ technology with DID+VC Web3 technology, promoting access to the OpenRoaming™ network for a large number of internet users and small to medium-sized enterprises. For the OpenRoaming™ network transformation of small and medium enterprises, Roam has innovatively developed an OpenRoaming™ upgrade solution based on the W3C decentralized digital identity standard, effectively addressing technical and cost barriers during implementation through decentralized deployment.

For the vast traditional user base, Roam offers diverse participation methods, encouraging users to contribute to network building. Users can share WiFi nodes or upgrade their own WiFi to the more secure and convenient OpenRoaming™ WiFi through the Roam App. Currently, Roam supports over 4 million OpenRoaming™ available WiFi hotspots in more than 190 countries and regions worldwide, with over 870,000 self-built WiFi nodes. The number of registered users is approaching 1.5 million, and this data is still rapidly growing. The community-driven approach and positive incentive mechanisms have greatly expanded the coverage of the Roam network and enhanced user experience.

In addition to sharing WiFi nodes by installing the Roam App on mobile devices, users can also support the construction of the OpenRoaming™ network by purchasing Roam routers. In January 2024, Roam will launch the latest AC device router Rainier MAX60 and AP device Baker MAX30, both of which feature excellent performance and security. The Roam Rainier MAX60 router integrates Wi-Fi 6 high-speed transmission technology, providing network speeds of up to 9.6 Gbps and allowing simultaneous connections for over 200 devices, achieving seamless sharing in multi-user environments. It adopts advanced low-power design and features 2TB of expandable storage, and it is the first to support dApp applications, capable of running decentralized applications such as CDN, cloud storage, VPN, and AI. Users can easily share router nodes on the Roam network, enhancing coverage and reception range, providing and enjoying a smooth and efficient network connection experience.

eSIM: Laying the Final Piece of the Puzzle for Roam's Global WiFi Network

Roam eSIM was launched in October this year, and data shows that within less than a month of its launch, the number of users grew from 750,000 to over a million, and it continues to grow rapidly.

As of December 4, 2024, the number of Roam network users has reached 1.53 million

Roam eSIM comes in two types: Global eSIM and Roam add-on eSIM. The Global eSIM allows users to recharge their accounts, giving them the freedom to choose the amount to add to their wallets, which will then be deducted based on the data rate standards of the selected country and the actual data usage incurred. The Roam add-on eSIM is mainly for countries without network roaming services, where users can choose data packages, currently supporting 10 countries.

Additionally, Global eSIM users can earn globally applicable data rewards by checking in through the Roam App or participating in Roam community activities. Currently, Global eSIM covers over 160 countries worldwide, which is highly attractive for digital nomads traveling between different countries.

Diverse Incentive Models Create Value for Users

Currently, in the Roam ecosystem, there are three types of assets: Roam Points, governance token $ROAM, and MetaBlox NFT, which drive ecosystem development in different ways.

Roam Points are the ecological tokens in the current Roam token system. Users can earn corresponding points by sharing WiFi nodes, checking in daily, inviting friends, and participating in community activities. For users who purchase the Rainier MAX60, activating it for the first time will earn them 3,000 Roam Points. Additionally, under normal operating conditions, the router produces a fixed output of 60 Roam Points daily, and daily check-ins at this point can earn the router owner an additional 5 Roam Points, with a daily reward cap of 150 Roam Points, meaning a maximum of 210 Roam Points can be earned each day.

Roam Points can be burned to obtain $ROAM tokens after the TGE, significantly reducing users' construction and network operation costs, and even allowing them to profit from it. When Roam Points are used for specific purposes or under certain conditions, the corresponding Roam Points will be burned. This helps control supply and enhance the scarcity of the tokens.

$ROAM is the governance token of the ecosystem, and holders can earn ecological tokens through various means, such as staking, airdrops, or participating in important community node activities. Its main uses include participating in community governance, voting, and a series of community OG rights.

MetaBlox NFT is directly issued by the MetaBlox Labs Foundation and can be bound to specific mining devices. Holders can earn $ROAM token rewards by staking NFTs. Additionally, NFTs grant holders special community status.

Connecting Web2 and Web3 for Large-Scale Implementation

In contrast to Cisco, Google, and traditional telecom giants like AT&T promoting OpenRoaming™ networks from the top down, Roam has been transforming the traditional telecom industry from the bottom up in a decentralized manner from the very beginning. As the Web3 extension layer and aggregation layer of OpenRoaming™, Roam has built a Physical L1 for the DePIN ecosystem, creating value for users through a free-to-use business model and diverse incentive models, quickly attracting a large number of users. It will also build a global network of users, devices, and data as the telecom data network (Telecom Data Layer) is implemented. With the growth of user numbers, Roam can not only deeply empower Web3 projects within the ecosystem (such as SocialFi and GameFi) but also generate additional income from its expanding network nodes and user base, thereby continuing to reinvest in the community as a driving force for its project flywheel. Moreover, since WiFi serves as an entry point for large-scale user traffic, it is naturally adaptable for training AI large models. Roam will achieve seamless interaction between hardware devices and advanced AI systems, facilitating data connection and sharing among people, devices, assets, and AI.

In the past year, despite market instability and a lack of significant marketing investment, Roam has still achieved remarkable growth in user numbers and node deployments, solidifying its leading position in DePIN projects. According to data from DePINscan.io in November, Roam ranks second among DePIN projects; WBA also has high hopes for Roam, expecting it to undertake the task of increasing the overall OpenRoaming™ network nodes by 20% in the coming years. Given Roam's current "wild growth" rate, it is believed that this goal will soon be achieved. At least in Cape Verde on the west coast of Africa, the cold Siberian plateau, and even the sparsely populated northern Canada, Roam users have already seized the opportunity.