Helium: The People's Network Expands IoT & Mobile Coverage Across U.S. Cities

The Helium IOT network continues its U.S. expansion

The Helium Network, or The People's Network, as it likes to be known, is a decentralized wireless infrastructure platform that leverages blockchain technology to create a global, crowd-sourced network for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Helium allows individuals to host hotspots and earn cryptocurrency rewards while contributing to the expansion of IoT connectivity.

Recent data collected by DIMO Network Macarons shows that, in terms of raw geographic coverage, Las Vegas (Nevada), Longmont (Colorado), and Salt Lake City (Utah) emerge as the top three cities with a high density of Helium hotspots providing widespread IoT connectivity.

When looking at population coverage, major metropolitan areas take the lead. New York-Newark (New York-New Jersey-Connecticut) tops the list with over 16 million people covered, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim (California) with 12.1 million, and Chicago (Illinois-Indiana) with 6.8 million.

With nearly complete coverage in some urban areas, the decentralized model proves effective for large-scale IoT deployment. Las Vegas-Henderson (Nevada) leads with 98.8% coverage, followed by Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim at 98.0% and the smaller town of Hanford (California) at 97.8%.

Overall, Helium provides coverage to over 163 million people, nearly 70% of the population living in the areas covered by the network.

A new roadmap for H2 2024

Leveraging the success and infrastructure of its IoT network, Helium has been steadily expanding its mobile coverage and services. Helium Mobile uses a hybrid network that combines cellular (T-Mobile in the U.S.), Wi-Fi, and Helium's hotspots to provide comprehensive coverage.

After launching international roaming in March, Helium Mobile just announced its plan to enhance network performance in high-demand areas by expanding its New York City coverage with the introduction of so-called Boosted Locations, following a successful launch in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Boosted Locations are targeted zones where new coverage will provide maximum value to subscribers. Builders deploying Helium Mobile Hotspots in these areas can earn increased rewards, calculated using a multiplier. The incentive structure improves network reliability and user experience, particularly in dense urban environments. Helium's approach leverages community input to identify coverage gaps through tools like Discovery Mapping and footfall data analysis. The deployment includes both Wi-Fi 6 and future Wi-Fi 6E/7 Hotspots, designed to handle higher data volumes in high-traffic areas.

In May, Helium launched a $20 group plan offering unlimited data, talk, and text for up to eight people. This simplified plan structure will help boost user adoption while providing an economical option for consumers.

In addition, Helium Mobile has outlined several initiatives for the latter half of 2024 to expand its decentralized network and improve mobile connectivity. These include partnering with hardware manufacturers to increase production of compatible Hotspots, converting existing Wi-Fi networks to join the Helium ecosystem, and collaborating with service providers like Telefónica and network aggregators to offload mobile traffic and fill coverage gaps.

Helium Mobile's Tech Stack Licensing Program was released on June 18 and allows device manufacturers to integrate Helium's technology into their products, increasing access to affordable, decentralized wireless service. MNTD. is the first partner to join the program.

"By licensing our tech stack, we're opening the door for more manufacturers to create devices that can seamlessly connect to the Helium Network. This not only accelerates the growth of our network but also provides consumers with more choices for devices that offer affordable and reliable connectivity." Amir Haleem, CEO at Helium Mobile/Nova Labs

Upgrades are on the way for its Hotspots with new features, plus streamlining of the Mobile Builder App for easier deployment, enhancement of the dashboard with bulk onboarding and fleet management capabilities, and improvement of the Coverage Planner tool for optimized network expansion. These efforts collectively aim to create a more robust, expansive, and cost-effective mobile network, although Helium noted that these plans are subject to change.

Helium is revolutionizing the telecommunications industry by converging IoT and mobile services on a decentralized network. We will continue to observe Helium as it positions itself as a key player in the decentralized ecosystem, disrupting traditional models and offering more flexible, cost-effective solutions for both consumers and businesses.