Building a Global Network for High-Precision GPS with Onocoy | Samuel Welde

This episode reveals how Onocoy is building a global, high-precision GPS network on Solana, leveraging a community-driven DePIN model to unlock autonomous applications in underserved markets.

Onocoy’s Mission: High-Precision GPS for Emerging Markets

Samuel Welde, representing Onocoy, explains that the project’s core mission is to build a global, decentralized network that improves GPS accuracy from meters down to centimeters. He highlights the strategic focus on continents like Africa and South America, where affordable and accessible high-precision GPS is currently lacking. By deploying in Kenya and Tanzania, Onocoy aims to prove that DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks)—which use token incentives to build real-world infrastructure—can empower developing countries. This model creates a win-win scenario where local contributors earn passive income by hosting stations while enabling new autonomous applications for their communities.

The Fundamental Problem with GPS Accuracy

The conversation clarifies that standard GPS is inherently imprecise due to atmospheric delays. Signals traveling 20,000 kilometers from satellites are distorted, resulting in meter-level accuracy, which is insufficient for autonomous systems. Samuel explains that Onocoy solves this by creating a network of ground-based reference stations. These stations correct the satellite signals in real-time, providing the centimeter-level precision required for applications like autonomous tractors, delivery drones, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

• Key Insight: The limitation of GPS is not the satellites themselves but the signal's journey through the atmosphere. A decentralized ground network is the most scalable solution to correct this.
• Example: Samuel references Zipline, a US startup that uses UAVs for medical deliveries in Rwanda, as a prime example of a service that relies on the kind of centimeter-precise GPS that Onocoy provides.

A Horizontal Strategy for Rapid Global Scaling

Samuel outlines Onocoy’s "horizontal" growth strategy, which is a critical differentiator for investors. Instead of manufacturing its own hardware like a "vertical" company (e.g., Apple), Onocoy focuses solely on its platform and tokenomics, similar to Google’s approach of building software for any device. This allows Onocoy to integrate with the estimated 30,000 high-precision GPS stations already operated by universities, companies, and national institutions worldwide.

• Strategic Implication: This capital-light model dramatically reduces barriers to entry and accelerates network growth by tapping into existing infrastructure. Onocoy can scale faster and more cheaply than competitors who must fund their own hardware deployments.
• Network Goal: The ultimate goal is to reach 100,000 stations for full global coverage. With 5,000 stations already online and 30,000 existing stations available for integration, Onocoy is positioned to make significant progress toward this target.

Pre-Launch Growth and Token Generation Event (TGE)

Onocoy has incentivized its early community of 5,000+ miners with a beta token called "Bono." Samuel reveals that the official TGE (Token Generation Event), where the official ONO token launches, is planned for July 25th. He describes this as a "soft launch" focused on long-term stability rather than speculative hype.

• Quote: "We're not a profit-driven project. We are much more of a long-term infrastructure project and we need to... keep the players in the game [who] only have the real people who want to contribute."
• Tokenomics Insight: To prevent a post-launch price crash, Onocoy has designed a conversion mechanism where the longer users hold their Bono tokens before swapping them for ONO, the better the conversion rate becomes. This game theory encourages long-term alignment and discourages immediate selling.

Why Solana is the Foundational Layer

Samuel details the rigorous process that led Onocoy to choose Solana as its Layer 1—the base blockchain on which the network is built. While other DePIN-focused chains were considered, Solana was selected for three critical reasons:

1. Speed and Low Fees: Essential for an infrastructure project that will eventually process billions of daily micro-transactions from autonomous devices.
2. Community: Solana’s global "Superteams" provide a powerful, built-in network for grassroots marketing, education, and community building, which is crucial for a project that needs to incentivize global participation.
3. Developer Ecosystem: The maturity of the platform allows for robust and reliable smart contract development.

Monetization Strategy: From B2C to B2B

Onocoy’s demand-side strategy is evolving from a simple consumer product to a sophisticated enterprise solution. The initial B2C offering allowed individual users to access the network for a flat monthly fee. However, the primary focus is now on a B2B model targeting large, nationwide GPS network operators.

• Actionable Insight: Onocoy offers these companies a low-cost way to expand their service coverage into new regions (e.g., a US provider expanding into Canada) without incurring massive capital and operational expenditures. By paying per-use on Onocoy’s community-owned network, these companies can save money, extend their services, and even earn revenue by connecting their own stations to the Onocoy network.

Conclusion

Onocoy's horizontal, capital-light strategy and focus on integrating existing infrastructure present a highly scalable model for building a global DePIN network. For investors and researchers, the upcoming TGE and the project's ability to convert large B2B clients are critical milestones that will validate its long-term vision for decentralized autonomous infrastructure.