What if your phone plan came from the crowd, not a carrier? At DePIN Day Hong Kong, Sam Lewis of Helium shared how the network is transforming global telecom by building the world’s largest decentralized wireless infrastructure. From IoT to mobile coverage, Helium empowers individuals to deploy hotspots and earn rewards while contributing to a global, community-powered network. Here’s how Helium is changing the rules of connectivity.
Helium operates two networks: the IoT network and the Helium Mobile network. The IoT network, launched over four years ago, is the largest decentralized wireless network for low-power, long-range machine communications, with over 300,000 hotspots worldwide.
Helium Mobile, the newer addition, enables decentralized cell coverage via WiFi offload. Anyone can deploy an indoor or outdoor hotspot (essentially a mini cell tower) and earn tokens for contributing to mobile data coverage.
Why Telecom Giants Are Integrating Helium’s Infrastructure
Major U.S. carriers and MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) like Boost Mobile and Mint Mobile are now offloading data onto the Helium Mobile Network. The appeal?
- Zero CapEx for infrastructure
- Cheaper data rates via offload
- Community-powered expansion into areas where traditional telecom lacks reach (e.g., airports, indoor venues, dense urban areas)
This makes Helium an attractive partner for telcos seeking to expand reach without the typical infrastructure costs.
The Movistar Case Study: 2M Subscribers, 300 Hotspots
Helium’s pilot with Movistar (Telefonica), Mexico’s third-largest telecom provider, shows real-world traction:
- 300 community-deployed hotspots in 60 days
- Nearly 500MB of daily offload per user
- 1 hour of daily connected time
- Pilot success led to official rollout to 2 million+ users
This demonstrates how DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) can scale in traditional markets and create real economic incentives.
Helium Mobile: Free Plans and User Adoption
In the U.S., Nova Labs launched Helium Mobile, an MVNO offering free and low-cost cell plans. With 500,000 users already, it’s a live case of how Web3-native infrastructure can reach real-world adoption without requiring users to understand or interact directly with crypto.
Global Coverage: 60K+ Mobile Hotspots and Growing
Using World.helium.com, users can explore live network coverage and real-time data flow. The network now supports:
- 60,000 mobile hotspots
- 400,000+ daily users
- 20+ TB of data offloaded every day
New updates allow users to reconfigure standard WiFi access points (without special hardware) to contribute to the network and start earning.
The IoT Network: Decentralizing Sensors and Data
Helium’s IoT network supports over 2.5 million daily data packets and 100+ organizations. Use cases include:
- Waste management (sensor-based fill detection)
- Flood detection (Green Metrics in Portugal)
- Wildfire alerts (Torch Sensors in California)
- Vehicle data (DIMO devices)
Helium’s infrastructure enables real-world applications with long-range, low-energy connectivity at minimal cost.
Interoperability and the Broader DePIN Ecosystem
Helium integrates with other DePIN projects like DIMO for mobility or offers co-location potential for other decentralized services. The shared infrastructure model offers scalable, cost-effective ways to serve demand across industries.
Why Helium Is the Blueprint for DePIN Success
With proven traction in the U.S. and Latin America, a clear incentive model, and growing community deployment, Helium stands as a leader in decentralized telecom. Its success with traditional carriers like Movistar signals a major shift in how physical infrastructure can be built — faster, cheaper and community-first.
