<aside> 💡 Article Summary: Helium is a decentralized network that provides long-range wireless coverage for IoT and cellular devices through two types of wireless infrastructure: LoRAWAN and 5G/CBRS. The network uses an algorithm called "proof-of-coverage" to reward LoRAWAN hotspots and 5G cells with tokens. This incentivizes users to create and maintain a reliable network. Originally, Helium operated its own blockchain, but in order to improve scalability and reduce transaction fees, it has since migrated to the Solana blockchain. This move has allowed the network to handle a greater number of transactions and offer faster confirmation times. Additionally, Helium has created several different types of tokens for the purpose of governance and utility: Helium (HNT), IOT, MOBILE, and Data Credits (DC). For example, IOT and MOBILE is used to reward users for providing network coverage, while Data Credits are used by devices to pay for data usage on the network. Overall, Helium's innovative approach to wireless coverage and use of blockchain technology has solidified it’s position in the crypto DePIN space and has the potential to revolutionize the IoT and cellular industries.
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Table of Contents:
From the official Helium website:
Helium is a global, distributed network of Hotspots that create public, long-range wireless coverage for LoRaWAN-enabled IoT devices and cellular devices. LoRaWAN™ Hotspots produce and are compensated in IOT, the native cryptocurrency of the Helium blockchain. The Helium blockchain is a new, open-source, public blockchain created entirely to incentivize the creation of physical, decentralized wireless networks. Today, the Helium IoT Network, and its hundreds of thousands of Hotspots, provide access to the largest LoRaWAN Network in the world.
The Helium network operates two distinct types of wireless infrastructure:
1.) LoRAWAN
The LoRAWAN standard operates in the 900mhz band and is designed for ultra-long range non-line-of-sight (nLoS) IoT device connectivity, mostly focused around small, low power, sensors and other simple devices. As the LoRA standard operates fairly low in the radio spectrum, and is designed for range over speed, it is not suited for high-bandwidth applications like video streaming or large file transfers. LoRA radios are notably much less expensive to purchase and operate than cellular LTE modems, as well as require much less power to operate.
Some examples or LoRA IoT devices are things like temperature sensors, motion sensors, water and air quality particulate sensors, and asset trackers.
2.) 5G / CBRS
Helium has most recently expanded it’s network to include cellular LTE / 5G voice and data services using the “CBRS” standard (Citizens Broadband Radio Service). Within the CBRS standards there are both licensed and un-licensed bands. Helium 5G system operates on the un-licensed public spectrum of the CBRS standard (specifically frequency band 48 - 3550MHz–3700 MHz) which is still loosely coordinated by the FCC, which means all CBRS radio cell deployments must be registered. This involves certain information about each installation to be documented and submitted to the FCC prior to having access to the spectrum (read more about the installation process here).
Most notably about Helium’s LTE / 5G service is that they have signed roaming agreements with DISH Network and T-Mobile, so that Helium Mobile customers can roam on to T-Mobile and DISH Network’s LTE network, and likewise T-Mobile and DISH Network mobile customers can roam on to Helium Mobile cells.
a.) HeliumMobile WiFi
The passing of HIP-93 introduced WiFi hotspots to provide additional coverage to the HeliumMobile network. These hotspots will be produced by authorized Helium WiFi hotspot manufacturers and function much in the same way as Helium CBRS cells. WiFi hotspots will come in two varieties: indoor hotspots (w/out an integrated GPS) and outdoor hotspots (with an integrated GPS module).
Upon deployment the Helium wallet mobile app is used to asset the location of the hotspot, validating the location using the mobile devices location data. The first hotspot to be deployed in a hex will receive the highest MOBILE earnings from both “proof of coverage” and mobile device data transfer.
Both LoRAWAN hotspots and 5G cells earn (or “mine”) tokens using an algorithm referred to as “proof-of-coverage” where neighboring hotspots transmit beacons, and serve as witnesses for beacons, by which they verify that each respective hotspot is providing coverage in the area surrounding where it is deployed (aka “asserted”). Additionally hotspots are earn rewards for passing data across the network for IoT and Mobile devices, respectively.
Like most crypto projects the development initiatives and changes to the protocol itself are determined by a DAO — a decentralized autonomous organization. The development initiatives and protocol changes themselves are submitted to the community in the form of a [project] Improvement Proposal, in this case shortened to the acronym: HIP.
It is important to follow what HIPs are being proposed, how it might effect you, the community, and the future of the project, and should be encouraged to vote on any proposals you have a particular opinion about.
GitHub - helium/HIP: Helium Improvement Proposals
You can view currently proposed HIP’s, and participating in the voting process (note: you must have a wallet with staked tokens to vote), as well as see review the final vote count on previously proposed HIPs at the following website:
The helium network originally operated it’s own layer-1 blockchain, but has since migrated operating as a “layer 2” on top of the Solana (SOL) blockchain due do it’s fast transaction time, low transaction fees, and ability to scale.
You can read more about Helium’s choice to migrate it’s operations to the Solana network here:
The Solana Token | Helium Documentation
With the migration to Solana the helium network created several different types of tokens that each serve there own unique purpose of governance and utility:
The 3 primary tokens (HNT, IOT, and MOBILE) are governed by a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (aka DAO) through which HIP’s presented to the community and voted on, guiding the development and evolution of each respective token, and the Helium project as a whole.
HNT serves the needs of the two primary parties in the Helium Ecosystem:
- Hotspot Hosts and Operators. Hosts are rewarded in network tokens like IOT or MOBILE while deploying and maintaining network coverage. These network tokens are redeemable for HNT.
- Enterprises and Developers use the Helium Network to connect devices and build IoT applications. Data Credits, which are a $USD-pegged utility token derived from HNT in a burn transaction, are used to pay transaction fees for wireless data transmissions on the Network.
IOT is the protocol token of the Helium IoT Network. IOT was introduced to the Helium Network through the community proposal HIP-52 and is further defined in subsequent HIPs(1,2). The first IOT tokens were minted following the Solana migration on April 18, 2023.
The IOT token is mined by LoRaWAN Hotspots through both data transfer proceeds as well as Proof of Coverage.
MOBILE is the protocol token of the Helium Mobile Network. MOBILE was introduced to the Helium Network through the community proposal HIP-53 and is further defined in subsequent HIPs(1,2,3).
The MOBILE token is mined by 5G Hotspots through both data transfer proceeds as well as Proof of Coverage.
Data Credits are the mechanism by which all usage is paid and accounted for on the Helium Network. The same Data Credit token can be used interchangeably on any Network within Helium. However, once Data Credits have been delegated, they cannot be redelegated. Data Credits are not transferable once created.
Helium price today, HNT to USD live, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
Helium IOT Explorer - DePIN Scan
Helium IOT price today, IOT to USD live, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
Helium Mobile Explorer - DePIN Scan
Helium Mobile price today, MOBILE to USD live, marketcap and chart | CoinMarketCap
<aside> đź’ˇ A list of official helium hardware manufacturers can be viewed in this repository maintained by the DeWi Alliance: https://github.com/dewi-alliance/hotspot-manufacturers
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