NBA Champion Tristan Thompson Partners With World Mobile To Launch Community-Owned Mobile Network

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 31, 2025

NBA champion Tristan Thompson has unveiled a pioneering partnership with global telecom leader World Mobile to launch Uplift, a community-owned mobile network. Announced at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, this venture is set to redefine how connectivity is delivered by leveraging decentralized technology and community engagement, challenging the entrenched centralized model of the $2 trillion telecom industry.

Innovative Technology And Community Empowerment

Uplift is founded on a robust blend of blockchain technology and a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN), offering unlimited data plans starting at $9.99 per month. Every subscription fuels neighborhood-level network expansion, and local “AirNode operators” earn a share of revenue by providing essential coverage. This innovative ecosystem ensures that the financial benefits of digital connectivity remain within the communities that generate them.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Leadership With A Vision For Social Impact

Beyond his celebrated basketball career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Thompson has become a formidable advocate for technological innovation and economic inclusion. Holding multiple C-suite roles across the web3 and fintech sectors, including chief digital equity officer at World Mobile and chief advisory officer at AxonDAO, Thompson is committed to using his influence to create meaningful social change. His onstage declaration highlighted a personal mission to uplift underserved communities by making high-speed data both accessible and affordable.

Proven Scalability And Real-World Application

Uplift’s model has already demonstrated its potential in a pilot program in Reno, Nevada, where community hosts earned over $10,000 annually by extending network coverage to underserved areas. In a further testament to its reliability, Thompson’s team restored connectivity in North Carolina during a severe hurricane, outpacing competitors like Starlink by deploying rapid helicopter-assisted solutions.

Expanding Horizons

With initial rollouts slated for Cleveland, Ohio, and plans to expand to additional cities in 2026, Uplift responds to the urgent need for affordable, high-speed internet. More than 50 million Americans live at or near the poverty line, and this initiative is poised to narrow the digital divide while reinvesting value directly back into local neighborhoods.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 18, 2026

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

Breaking news