World Mobile kicked off Network Builder Auction 2 at full speed, officially going live on January 15, 2026. Within the first 12 hours, more than half of the 50 available hexes were claimed, signaling strong demand and growing confidence in the Network Builder franchise model. The auction immediately delivered a mix of major metropolitan markets, rural regions, and high-traffic vacation destinations.

 

Notable early markets included Fairbanks, Alaska, Seattle, Washington, St. Louis, Missouri, Topeka, Kansas, and Salt Lake City, Utah. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania emerged as a particularly strong contender, with eight additional hexes purchased and a total of twelve hexes sold across the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The Steel City appears poised to represent World Mobile prominently, complete with its iconic black and yellow.

 

Florida also saw continued expansion. Coral Bay joined its Gulf Coast neighbor Tampa from the previous auction, while North Key Largo extended World Mobile’s footprint from the southern tip of the Sunshine State. Two hexes along the southern New Jersey coast also entered the auction mix, further expanding coastal coverage.

 

Rural expansion remained a central theme throughout Auction 2. Continued growth was seen across Iowa, New Mexico, Texas, and the North Carolina coast. Notable additions included Bald Head Island and Sunset Beach in North Carolina, Carlsbad, New Mexico, and San Antonio’s greater south side. These markets highlight World Mobile’s continued focus on areas historically underserved by traditional telecom providers.

 

Auction 2 also introduced a new dynamic not previously seen on auction day. The Roanoke and Salem, Virginia area made a strong debut, with two hexes purchased instantly using the “buy now” feature at $900 each. In total, six connected hexes were secured in the area, putting the region firmly on the World Mobile map.

 

Vacation destinations played a major role in this round as well. Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, often considered the summer playground of East Coast elites, appeared on the board and brought much-needed connectivity attention to the island. Located roughly 30 miles south of Cape Cod, Nantucket is a seasonal hotspot that large telecom companies have long treated as expendable due to fluctuating demand. This has often resulted in outdated infrastructure being deployed for some of their wealthiest customers. The hope is that a local Network Builder identified this gap, aiming to both improve service and capitalize on the opportunity.

 

Additional underserved vacation areas joined the network, including one hex claimed in the Hawaiian Islands on Kauai. Texas vacation country continued to expand with Breckinridge, a lake market nestled in the Texas Hill Country. This region is frequently overlooked by major telecom providers due to geographic challenges. Rugged terrain, extreme elevation changes, dense mesquite growth, briar patches, creeks, lakes, boulders, and rock slides make infrastructure deployment and maintenance difficult. Combined with a roughly two-hour drive from the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Breckinridge has remained unattractive to big telecom operators, creating an ideal opening for World Mobile Network Builders.

 

Several notable bids stood out during Auction 2. Salt Lake City’s Sandy suburb closed at $3,898.46. Pittsburgh’s Emworth neighborhood followed closely at $3,449.26. San Antonio’s south side Elmendorf neighborhood sold for $811.17. Seattle’s Keyport neighborhood closed at $698.82, while St. Louis’ East Carondelet neighborhood sold for $669.03. Carlsbad, New Mexico came in at $525.32, making it one of the more expensive low-population markets on the map. By comparison, Nantucket Island listed at $229.86.

 

Investors in larger metropolitan areas will be looking to capitalize on higher customer density and bandwidth demand. World Mobile coverage in these markets is expected to provide relief to users who frequently experience throttling from major telecom providers during peak hours and large events. Population density combined with bandwidth limitations remains a key revenue driver in urban markets.

 

Rural markets, however, offer a different value proposition. In these areas, users are likely to roam onto World Mobile’s network simply because traditional carriers often fail to provide reliable service at all. By delivering infrastructure that large telecom companies have neglected for decades, Network Builders are expected to bring meaningful connectivity improvements to rural communities. This approach aligns closely with World Mobile’s mission to deliver a cheaper, better, and more private cellular experience, while earning strong local support.

 

This continued expansion reflects World Mobile’s community fully embracing the mission to “connect the unconnected,” as outlined by founder and CEO Micky Watkins. In just over a week, 100 franchises have been sold across 18 states, spanning coast to coast and extending to the islands. With this level of momentum, World Mobile storefront openings appear imminent.

 

If Auction 3 launches next week as expected, another 50 franchises will enter the market. Questions remain around whether every state will eventually adopt World Mobile, or if some regions will resist, similar to patterns seen in fast food franchise adoption. There are also open questions about long-term profitability across states with varying tax laws. Despite these uncertainties, early Network Builders are not hesitating.

 

Some investors have committed heavily to large markets, betting on demand and scale. Others are building networks in rural communities, aiming to improve local infrastructure while earning returns for their efforts. Auction 2 closed faster than Auction 1, wrapping up in just 20 hours compared to 22 hours during the first week. This occurred during the same week a Verizon outage impacted large portions of the country, further fueling investor confidence as weaknesses in traditional telecoms became more visible.

 

Within 36 hours, all sales will finalize, further reshaping the U.S. telecommunications landscape into something more decentralized and user-friendly. Announcements are expected in many of these markets, including half-off discounts for the first month of service and potential storefront openings. Given the level of early investment and anticipation surrounding the World Mobile User Network, it is increasingly clear that at least one Network Builder is ready to open shop.

 

Auction 2 has now wrapped, closing out the second auction recap. To stay informed on Auction 3, follow the World Mobile Discord and Telegram channels, and check back with Rare News for the next recap if you are enjoying these updates.