The true power of such systems is that they might eventually help overthrow hegemony of the BigTelco, who have been in bed with governments for as long as they have been in existence.

I'm excited to see what this would mean not just for the internet but mobile communication systems that are so much dependant on a few vendors and MNOs that have time and again proven to breach on privacy repeatedly [0][1]. For instance, there's no viable open source baseband alternative for 4G+ mobile devices [2][3][4][5], and acquiring frequency and setting up base stations is mired neck deep in regulations and patents [6], so there is not much room for a startup to disrupt the incumbent.

Given the advent of eSIMs and increase in embedded SecureElements [7] in smartphones, the traditional way of going mobile might soon be gone for good. I, for one, can't wait.

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[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17081684

[1] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=6722292

[2] https://github.com/srsLTE/srsLTE

[3] https://telecominfraproject.com

[4] https://www.opennetworking.org

[5] https://osmocom.org

[6] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=11931072

[7] https://www.nfcworld.com/2018/08/07/357810/android-9-nfc-sec...