Understanding the Helium Ecosystem

We understand there are a lot of moving pieces to the Helium Ecosystem — including Helium Mobile, the Helium Network, and the Helium Foundation. Here’s a breakdown of how, together, they facilitate the decentralized connectivity that we’re on a mission to build.

Helium Mobile is built on the Helium Network — a decentralized, blockchain-powered platform that offers wireless connectivity through a unique combination of hardware, software, and crypto incentives. Unlike traditional telecom networks that rely on centralized infrastructure owned by a few large corporations, the Helium Network is decentralized — it’s powered by individuals who deploy Hotspots, which are small hardware devices that provide network coverage to their communities.

As the Helium ecosystem continues to grow and evolve, it's important to understand the distinct roles and contributions of Helium Mobile, the Helium Network, and the Helium Foundation. Here’s a breakdown of what each entity does and how they support one another.

• Helium Mobile is a wireless phone provider, powered by the Helium Network, on a mission to create a world with continuous connectivity that is built and run by the people that use it — and priced so they can afford it. Helium Mobile offers an affordable, unlimited phone plan that runs on the Helium Mobile Network and utilizes the nation’s largest 5G network when users are not in range of a wireless hotspot. Helium Mobile is its own entity, separate from the Helium Network and Foundation.

• The Helium Network is the decentralized wireless infrastructure platform itself — consisting of Hotspots and CBRS radios owned and deployed by the people — that creates coverage for Helium Mobile subscribers. Originally formed to transfer data for Internet of Things (IoT) sensor use cases, more recently, through the governance process, Helium Network expanded to become a “network of networks” and to accommodate other wireless technologies, including the cell network. Currently, the Helium Network is made up of the IOT Network and MOBILE Network.

• The Helium Foundation The Helium Foundation is a global not-for-profit dedicated to the proliferation of a secure, cost-effective Internet. As the governing and community steward for the Helium Network, the world’s largest decentralized wireless network, the Helium Foundation exists to benefit the wireless industry and its stakeholders as a driver of ecosystem development, network governance, and public education. 

• Nova Labs is the company behind Helium Mobile. In addition to providing cell service, Nova Labs also facilitates the expansion of the Helium Network by manufacturing and selling indoor and outdoor Hotspots, licensing its tech stack for third-party manufacturers to develop and sell Hotspots, and by building partnerships with other potential users of the Network to facilitate data transfer on the network and incentivize continued network growth. 

The Helium Network: The Core Infrastructure

What is it? The Helium Network is a decentralized wireless network designed to provide wireless connectivity. Driven by data and designed on modern, internet-native architecture, the Network creates seamless wireless convergence for 21st-century connectivity. 

How does it work? Helium Mobile Hotspots enable anyone to become a network operator and create coverage for themselves and their community. A decentralized system of Hotspots is deployed by friends, neighbors, local business owners, and creative entrepreneurs to grow the Network and improve connectivity. 

Hotspot deployers are also rewarded for the work they put in to create connectivity. Using blockchain technology, Hotspot deployers are rewarded with crypto for enabling connectivity in their local area and for the mobile data usage that goes through their Hotspots.

With this system, the data users create when they use the Network isn’t used to enrich big telecom, data brokers, and other third parties they’ve never even heard of. It’s used to enhance the Network and improve their service. 

Helium Mobile: Disrupting Traditional Telecom

What is it? Helium Mobile is a people-powered mobile network service that extends the principles of the Helium Network to mobile connectivity. We aim to offer affordable and reliable mobile services using the decentralized infrastructure of the Helium Network. 

How does it work? Helium Mobile offers an affordable, unlimited phone plan that runs on the Helium Network and utilizes the nation’s largest 5G network when users are not in range of community-built coverage. 

Network subscribers are seamlessly connected to Helium Network-compatible equipment (such as Helium Mobile Hotspots) anytime they are within range and can support Network development through Discovery Mapping – a process of sharing anonymized location data as they move through the world to inform where Hotspots can have the greatest impact. Subscribers who participate in mapping are also rewarded with crypto for anonymously sharing the data that helps inform how to improve network connectivity. Being built on the blockchain also ensures that all transactions are secure and transparent. 

How is it different?

Helium Mobile is affordable. By utilizing a decentralized infrastructure, Helium Mobile can offer more affordable mobile services compared to traditional telecom providers. Helium Mobile subscribers can connect for just $20 a month and earn rewards for actively contributing to the Network and improving connectivity.

Helium Mobile is scalable. The community-driven model allows the Network to expand organically as more users deploy Hotspots, enhancing coverage and capacity in communities.

Helium Mobile is secure. The decentralized network powering Helium Mobile is secure, private, and resilient. Helium Mobile prioritizes data security and does not track voice and messaging data, and subscribers who opt to enable Discovery Mapping share location data anonymously and are rewarded for how that data informs the building of a better network. 

Helium Mobile also prioritizes security and privacy by implementing industry-leading capabilities to protect users, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) and a forthcoming cryptographic approach to prevent SIM swapping. Decentralization enables security and resiliency for the Network as no singular company or critical infrastructure can be the target of nefarious actors or subject to technical issues that cause massive outages. 

The Helium Foundation: Guiding the Ecosystem

What is it? The Helium Foundation is a non-profit organization responsible for the governance, development, and expansion of the Helium Ecosystem. It oversees the strategic direction of the Helium Network and ensures its sustainable growth. Changes to how the Network is run and its economic model are decided by the community via a transparent proposal and voting process managed by the Helium Foundation.

What does it do?

• Governance: The Foundation manages the governance processes of the Helium Network, including protocol upgrades, community proposals, and decision-making frameworks. Anyone can submit a Helium Improvement Proposal (HIP) as a first step to modifying the network. All proposals are published in a public repository, discussed and debated in a public forum, and then voted on by the community.

• Development Support: It provides resources and support for the development of new applications and technologies within the Helium ecosystem.

• Advocacy: The Foundation advocates for the Helium Network, highlighting its benefits and driving awareness and adoption among various stakeholders.

• Community Engagement: The Foundation engages with the community to promote participation, foster collaboration, and ensure that the Network’s growth aligns with the interests of its users.

• Regulatory Compliance: It ensures that the Helium Network adheres to relevant regulatory standards and promotes best practices in the industry.

TL;DR: We want to help create a world with continuous connectivity that is built by the people, run by the people, and priced for the people — a world where everyone, everywhere can afford unlimited talk, text, and data and contribute to their community’s connectivity.

• Built by the people. It’s an internet-native network for mobile voice and data connectivity that’s powered by modern WiFi and CBRS Hotspots, deployed and owned by individuals who join the community.

• Run by the people. It’s secured and incentivized by rewards on the blockchain, and changes to this system are decided by users via a transparent voting process.

• Priced for the people. It creates true wireless convergence and continuous connectivity at a sensible cost.

The Helium ecosystem is revolutionizing wireless connectivity with people-powered decentralized technology. The Helium Network provides the foundational infrastructure, Helium Mobile extends these principles to mobile services, and the Helium Foundation ensures the ecosystem's sustainable growth and governance. Together, and with the community, they create a powerful and dynamic environment that puts the power of connection back into the hands of the people.