What is Helium Mobile?
When talking about Helium Mobile, we have to mention Helium.
Helium started out as a decentralized IoT (LoRaWAN network) project. In the bull market of 2021, Helium used the token HNT as an incentive to grow its LoRaWAN network from 15,000 hotspots in January 2021 to more than 900,000 hotspots within 12 months, operating in more than 182 countries, becoming the world's largest decentralized IoT network.
Helium’s LoRaWAN network is a great example of how crypto token incentives can be used to build decentralized infrastructure networks (DePIN).
Therefore, Helium has set its sights on the larger market of "5G cellular networks". According to public information, the market opportunity of 5G cellular networks is expected to be 100 times that of IoT networks.
In April 2022, Helium raised $200 million, led by a16z and Tiger, with participation from venture arms of telecom giants such as Deutsche Telekom, Nokia, and LibertyGlobal. As part of the announcement, Helium announced that it would rename its corporate entity "Nova Labs." Helium wants to replicate the process of crypto tokens incentivizing the rapid development of LoRaWAN networks to other network types, especially 5G cellular networks. To meet performance requirements, Helium also migrated to the Solana blockchain on April 18, 2023.
In July 2022, Helium launched MOBILE tokens as rewards for 5G hotspots to expand Helium 5G coverage.
In August 2022, Nova Labs announced its own crypto operator Helium Mobile. The so-called crypto operator is similar to a mobile virtual network operator or MVNO, which refers to a service provider that does not operate infrastructure.
Helium Mobile combines Helium's own 5G network with the network of T-Mobile, a traditional mobile network operator in the United States. When Helium Mobile users are in areas without decentralized wireless network (DeWi) coverage, the encrypted operator will automatically switch to T-Mobile's network.
In other words, Helium Mobile is a decentralized 5G operator that uses the MOBILE token to incentivize network operators to deploy and operate 5G mobile network hardware, thereby forming a decentralized wireless network (DeWi).
Why is the price of MOBILE token rising?
Since the launch of the MOBILE token, its price has remained relatively stable.
After Helium Mobile launched a pilot $5 data plan with unlimited calls, text messages, and mobile data in Miami in August 2023, MOBILE prices began to rise.
DePIN sub-track decentralized wireless network (DeWi)
In terms of scope, Helium Mobile is a project in the DePIN sub-track of the larger track, decentralized wireless network (DeWi).
DeWi aims to incentivize operators to deploy and maintain telecommunications network hardware in exchange for token rewards, thereby revolutionizing the construction, operation and ownership of communication networks. Compared with traditional suppliers, the DeWi network reduces capital and operating expenses and optimizes unit economics; DeWi eliminates the cost of acquiring spectrum licenses and ends the uniform charge for end users.
According to a report by Messari, there are now more than 14 DeWi networks, including cellular, WiFi, LoRaWAN, Bluetooth, and hybrid networks.
5G Networks (Cellular): Two prominent players are Helium 5G and Pollen Mobile Networks, which leverage the recently deregulated CBRS spectrum. Cellular networks have the largest market opportunity compared to other network market sizes.
WiFi Network: Aims to create a global shared WiFi network that anyone can connect to at a low price. WayRu and WiFi Dabba are two of the early projects.
LoRaWAN network (IoT): LoRaWAN is a long-range, low-power wireless communication protocol. It is suitable for transmitting small data packets - such as sensor data - over long distances, which makes it the network of choice for IoT devices. In addition to Helium, Foam and Mesh+ are also working on related construction.
Bluetooth mesh: This network is suitable for low-power and low-range use cases because of Bluetooth's low-energy power. Nodle is a Bluetooth mesh network that uses smartphones and Bluetooth low-energy routers to connect IoT devices to the Internet.
Hybrid Networks: Hybrid networks bring together different wireless technologies into a single solution to provide decentralized internet connectivity. Althea and World Mobile Token are two examples of this.
