Helium operates a decentralized wireless network where individuals and businesses deploy low‑cost Hotspot devices that combine LTE/5G and LoRaWAN radios to deliver cellular and IoT connectivity. The network uses a blockchain ledger to record traffic and reward hotspot operators with HNT tokens, enabling affordable, on‑demand coverage without traditional carrier contracts. Helium also offers subscription‑based services such as Helium Plus+ for enhanced QoS and enterprise‑grade SLAs.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
+5Founders
Product
Problem
Legacy cellular and IoT networks rely on dense, expensive tower infrastructure owned by a few telecom operators, resulting in high service fees, slow rollout of coverage, and persistent gaps in connectivity for underserved locations and emerging use cases such as AI‑driven video streaming and massive sensor deployments.
Solution
Helium creates a decentralized wireless network by allowing individuals, businesses, and enterprises to install low‑cost Hotspot devices that act as micro‑cell towers. Each Hotspot provides cellular and IoT connectivity to nearby devices and is rewarded in HNT, Helium’s native utility token, for the data it routes. The network’s blockchain ledger records hotspot performance, token rewards, and usage metrics, enabling transparent, trust‑less coordination of coverage. Participants can earn HNT by sharing excess bandwidth, while network users gain affordable, on‑demand connectivity without relying on traditional carrier contracts. Helium also offers optional services such as Helium Plus+ and carrier offload tools that integrate the decentralized layer with existing mobile operators.
Target Audience
The primary customers are individual hotspot owners, small‑business operators, IoT device manufacturers, and enterprises (including mobile carriers) that require cost‑effective, scalable wireless coverage for consumer devices, sensors, and edge workloads.
Features
- Compact Hotspot hardware that combines LTE/5G and LoRaWAN radios, enabling both mobile and low‑power IoT connectivity from a single device
- Blockchain‑based incentive layer that mints HNT tokens proportional to verified data traffic and coverage contribution
- Automated coverage mapping and demand analytics (Observed Demand) that guide hotspot placement to maximize network utility and earnings
- Open APIs and SDKs for developers to integrate Helium connectivity into IoT platforms, edge applications, and carrier offload solutions
- Helium Plus+ subscription tier providing enhanced QoS, priority routing, and enterprise‑grade service‑level agreements
- Secure, end‑to‑end encrypted data transport with tamper‑evident logging on the public ledger
- Seamless Wi‑Fi conversion tool that lets existing Wi‑Fi networks become Helium Hotspots, extending coverage without additional hardware
- Global network dashboard that displays real‑time hotspot status, earnings, and coverage heatmaps for operators and individual owners