About

Helium is a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) on Solana focused on wireless infrastructure. Helium allows individuals and entities to physically deploy Helium Hotspots to power decentralized wireless networks for its users.

History

Helium was co-founded in 2013 by Amir Haleem, Shawn Fanning, and Sean Carey, who “envisioned creating a decentralized wireless infrastructure that could support the rapidly growing IoT industry.” In July 2019, Helium launched its Internet of Things (IoT) hotspots alongside the Helium Network Token (HNT). At launch, Helium’s ecosystem ran on its own Helium Blockchain, bootstrapping growth with HNT token incentives. In August 2020, Helium launched the Data Credit Token to facilitate protocol payments. Over the following years, Helium expanded IoT coverage across various countries.

Subnetwork Creation

In January 2022, Helium Improvement Proposals (HIPs) 51, 52, and 53 were approved. Helium became a “Network of Networks,” expanding upon its original vision of creating an IoT Network by adding a Mobile Network to provide 5G connectivity. Helium’s governance was split into three decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), consisting of Helium DAO, IOT subDAO, and MOBILE subDAO. Also, the IOT Network Token and MOBILE Network Token were introduced into Helium’s ecosystem.

Solana Migration

In September 2022, HIP-70 approved a complete migration from the Helium Blockchain to Solana to take advantage of smart contract capabilities, faster transaction speeds, cheaper transactions, decentralized finance (DeFi) access, etc. After a month-long delay, the migration occurred during a 48-hour migration window on April 18, 2023. The completion of the migration marked a “New Era” for Helium.

Helium Mobile Rollout

In May 2023, Helium Mobile’s beta went live, offering an unlimited talk, text, and data phone plan for $25 per month. In July 2023, Discovery Mapping went live, allowing Mobile Network users to earn MOBILE token rewards by opting in to serve as a Discovery Mapper that shares location data through a connected smartphone. In October 2023, Boosted Locations went live, providing boosted rewards for hotspots providing coverage in geographical areas across Florida that lack hotspot coverage.

Geographic Expansion

In December 2023, Helium launched a no-contract, $20 per-month phone plan with unlimited data, talk, and text nationwide across the United States. In January 2024, Helium partnered with Telefónica to bring Mobile Hotspots to Mexico that power Telefónica’s wireless infrastructure. This is a first-step in potentially offering offer Helium Mobile in Mexico. In March 2024, Helium Mobile introduced a $15 per month International Roaming plan that provides a limited amount of talk, text, and data over 30 days when outside of the United States.