Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Helium Network: A Decentralized Solution for Telecom’s Coverage Woes?

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Helium Network: A Decentralized Solution for Telecom’s Coverage Woes?

Helium Network: Decentralizing Telecom for Profit and Coverage

The Helium Network, a decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN) powered by blockchain technology, is making waves in the telecommunications industry. Frank Mong, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Nova Labs, the team behind Helium, recently shared his vision at Consensus 2025 in Toronto. He believes that Helium’s decentralized approach offers a win-win scenario for both small businesses and large telecommunication companies.

Mong highlighted the potential for small businesses like bars, restaurants, and convenience stores to generate revenue by hosting wireless hotspots. This not only benefits these businesses financially but also expands network coverage, making internet access more readily available in their areas.

Pictured from left to right at Consensus 2025, the Realest.Com founder DJ Skee Keeney, Nova Labs COO Frank Mong, CEO of KYD Labs Ahmed Nimale, and CoinDesk senior anchor Jennifer Sanasie. Source: Cointelegraph
Pictured from left to right at Consensus 2025, the Realest.Com founder DJ Skee Keeney, Nova Labs COO Frank Mong, CEO of KYD Labs Ahmed Nimale, and CoinDesk senior anchor Jennifer Sanasie. Source: Cointelegraph

Benefits for Large Telecoms: Reduced Costs and Coverage Expansion

Large telecom companies, however, can also reap significant benefits from the Helium Network. Mong explained that by utilizing Helium’s telemetry data, these companies can optimize their network infrastructure. Telemetry data provides valuable insights into network usage, performance, and potential bottlenecks, allowing telecoms to make informed decisions to reduce operational costs and improve efficiency.

“It costs about $300,000 for a telecom company to stand up one tower; you need one per block for 5G to work effectively,” Mong told Cointelegraph. “Instead of doing that and making phone plans more expensive, what if anyone with a useful Wi-Fi network shares that Wi-Fi and allows, not just anyone to use it securely, but allows large companies like AT&T to see the telemetry of that network.”

The Helium Network allows telecom companies to tap into a network of existing hotspots, effectively expanding their coverage in areas where building traditional towers is costly or impractical. This is particularly beneficial for providing coverage in rural or underserved areas.

Growing Momentum: Partnerships and Global Expansion

Helium’s decentralized approach is attracting significant attention. The network has already secured strategic partnerships with major telecom players, including Telefónica and AT&T. In January 2024, Helium partnered with Telefónica to expand coverage in Latin America, and in April 2025, partnered with AT&T to provide seamless access to the Helium Network for AT&T users.

The network is currently focused on expanding its reach globally. With its existing 95,272 mobile hotspots, primarily concentrated in the United States, and 284,053 active Internet of Things (IoT) hotspots worldwide, Helium is well-positioned for continued growth and adoption.

An overview of the Helium Network’s mobile hotspots around the world. Source: Helium
An overview of the Helium Network’s mobile hotspots around the world. Source: Helium

The success of Helium and other DePIN projects highlights the potential of blockchain technology to disrupt traditional infrastructure and create new opportunities for businesses and individuals alike. As these networks continue to grow and mature, it will be interesting to see how they reshape the landscape of the telecommunications industry and beyond.

Matthew Cooper
Matthew Cooper
Matthew Cooper is a journalist covering cryptocurrency adoption, enterprise blockchain solutions, and industry partnerships. His stories highlight the integration of blockchain technology into mainstream business practices.

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