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“From the very beginning, our ultimate goal has been to make WiFi access seamless, using decentralized solutions to empower individuals,” shared Jeffrey, Roam’s co-founder. What began as a bold vision has now become a global reality—three years later, Roam stands as a revolutionary leader in the telecom industry, boasting an impressive 2 million app users and 1.3 million self-deployed WiFi nodes across nearly 200 countries. Roam is no longer just a service provider; it’s a movement that’s transforming connectivity on a global scale.
The telecom industry is at a crucial turning point, and the user is at the heart of this transformation. Traditional telecom models, with their outdated technology, rigid contracts, and restrictive services, have long struggled to meet the demands of modern consumers. Telecom operators continue to face mounting challenges in an increasingly digital world—while advancements like 5G promise faster connectivity, they come with massive capital costs, and the revenue from legacy services like voice calls and SMS continues to decline. These traditional services are losing ground to free, digital alternatives like WhatsApp and WeChat, which offer global communication without the financial burden of telecom subscriptions. Meanwhile, the industry’s attempts to develop value-added services and innovate have been slow and inadequate, leaving many operators financially strained. This growing gap between consumer expectations and traditional telecom offerings highlights the need for a new approach—one that puts users first and gives them the power to take control of their own connectivity. This is where a new model, rooted in decentralization, comes in to challenge the status quo.
This is where Roam steps in. Founded in 2021 with the mission to address the scalability challenges of the Wireless Broadband Alliance’s OpenRoaming™ program, Roam has reimagined what telecom can be. By embracing a decentralized, free-to-use wireless network, Roam provides secure, seamless, and globally accessible connectivity that isn’t bound by traditional telecom limitations. Integrating cutting-edge Web3 technologies like Decentralized Identifiers (DIDs) and Verifiable Credentials (VCs), Roam ensures privacy and data security for all users, empowering them to participate in building and validating the network, while earning rewards for their contributions.
What sets Roam apart is its ability to bridge the gap between Web2 and Web3. Roam offers real-world services that anyone can use, regardless of their familiarity with cryptocurrency or blockchain. Once users are onboarded, they unlock new possibilities and opportunities—many of which they’re encountering for the first time. Roam’s integration of Web3 ideals into real-world telecom services is the key to driving the mass adoption of crypto, making the decentralized internet accessible to all.
Roam’s community-first model has sparked rapid growth, capturing the attention of both everyday users and industry giants. Its free-to-use system has resonated deeply with individuals worldwide, propelling Roam’s app user base from 750,000 to 1 million in just under a month following the eSIM launch. But this growth is not just in numbers—it’s in engagement. Roam’s users aren’t passive consumers; they’re active participants in building the network, earning rewards for contributing to its expansion.
This user-centric approach hasn’t gone unnoticed. Roam has attracted significant interest from investors, completing a $5 million strategic funding round in 2023, led by Anagram and Volt Capital, followed by a pivotal investment from Samsung Next in 2024—the only DePIN-focused investment Samsung made that year. These investments are a testament to the potential Roam has to reshape the telecom landscape and bring about a more inclusive, sustainable, and decentralized future.
Roam’s strategy of incentivizing participation is at the core of its success. Unlike traditional telecom companies that rely on top-down control, Roam empowers users to actively contribute to the network’s growth, making them stakeholders in its success. Through the introduction of community WiFi nodes, Roam has enabled users to share OpenRoaming™ WiFi nodes and earn Roam Points—transforming everyday users into contributors who help expand the network and earn rewards in the process.
Roam’s hardware updates, including the Rainier MAX60 and Baker MAX30 routers, are designed to be more than just tools for connectivity. These devices serve as gateways for users to engage with the Roam network, enabling them to share WiFi nodes, validate connections, and participate in growing the decentralized infrastructure. As they do so, they earn Roam Points, which can later be converted into $ROAM tokens after the Token Generation Event (TGE).
Roam’s eSIM service, launched in September 2024, further lowers the barriers to entry for participation. By offering free roaming data for users who engage with the network—such as by checking in at hotspots—Roam incentivizes real-world activity, allowing users to earn rewards simply by using the network. The effectiveness of this approach is clear: within a month of launching eSIM, Roam’s user base grew by over 250,000, highlighting the strong demand for decentralized telecom solutions.
Every action within Roam’s ecosystem—from setting up a WiFi node to validating network transactions—earns Roam Points, which are later converted into $ROAM tokens. This rewards system creates a sustainable model for users to generate income, offset the cost of hardware, and participate in the growth of the network. This decentralized approach to telecom services not only makes connectivity accessible but also provides financial opportunities for those willing to engage.
Roam’s success speaks volumes about the viability of its approach. According to Syndica Research’s Solana DePIN report for November 2024, Roam saw a staggering 4.6x surge in user growth, with over 100,000 new WiFi setups globally. Daily interactions on the network now exceed 800,000, surpassing the engagement levels of traditional telecom operators and demonstrating the power of decentralization.
Looking ahead, Roam is poised to continue its remarkable journey toward building a truly decentralized telecom network. Roam’s 2024 achievements—such as the launch of its Loan Program with Huma Finance—are just the beginning. The Loan Program makes it easier for more users to acquire Roam miners like the Rainier MAX60 and Baker MAX30, allowing more people to participate in building the network.
The Roam Loan Program offers flexible financing, with an upfront 30% payment in stablecoins and the remaining 70% covered by Huma Finance. Mining rewards and early airdrops help users pay off the loan, and once paid off, all future rewards belong to the user. This program is one of the first steps in Roam’s broader vision of Roam Growth—a platform designed to make network devices multifunctional economic tools that provide users with sustainable income streams.
Roam’s ambitions extend beyond individual users to a global, interconnected network of telecom data. In October 2024, Roam announced its initiative to build a Physical Layer 1 for the DePIN ecosystem—a project aimed at creating a seamless data-sharing environment between people, devices, assets, and AI, all underpinned by blockchain technology. Roam’s unique use of decentralized OpenRoaming™ and DID+VC-based identity verification is laying the foundation for a new era of secure, interoperable connectivity.
Roam’s ecosystem continues to evolve with the launch of Roam Discovery—an initiative designed to foster collaboration among DePIN projects. By bringing together visionary projects and engaged communities, Roam Discovery is creating a dynamic, thriving ecosystem where projects can share resources, drive innovation, and grow together. With 20 pioneering projects already onboard, Roam Discovery is setting a new standard for innovation in fields like Layer 1, PayFi, and AI.
Roam’s journey is far from over. In 2025, Roam will continue to redefine the future of connectivity. By uniting communities, developers, and investors in a shared vision, Roam is proving that technology can be a force for good—a tool for empowerment and decentralization. Roam is not just connecting devices; it’s connecting lives. By blending Web3 principles with the real-world needs of telecom, Roam is setting a new precedent for decentralized communications that serves the people who drive it.
The DePIN sector has experienced remarkable growth in 2024, as outlined in Messari’s State of DePIN report. While DePINs currently hold less than 0.1% of the $1T+ addressable markets, the sector's revenues surged by 30x, with over 13 million devices interacting with DePIN networks daily. With more than 350 tokens and four major networks built on Solana, the DePIN ecosystem is rapidly expanding. In the wireless connectivity space, Roam stands out as a leader, securing its position as the fourth-largest DePIN project globally in terms of active node count. As a key player in decentralized WiFi, Roam is helping drive the growth and evolution of the DePIN landscape.
As Jeffrey envisioned, Roam is building the future of telecom—one that’s powered by communities, driven by innovation, and built for a world where everyone has the freedom to connect on their terms. With its transformative approach and ambitious roadmap, Roam is more than just a telecom service—it’s a revolution.
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