Case Study: Helium brings real-world 5G networks on Solana

Introduction to Helium and DePIN

Blockchains are not confined to digital existence—they have profound implications for the real world. Helium exemplifies this principle as a pioneering DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) project that leverages blockchain technology for tangible, real-world applications. DePIN projects harness decentralized technology to power practical services including street mapping, rendering power, ride-hailing services, and wireless connectivity. Helium specifically focuses on wireless networks, cultivating an expanding ecosystem of user-owned hotspots that enable communities to enhance their internet and cellular coverage independently of traditional telecommunications companies. As Helium Foundation COO Scott Sigel articulates, "With Helium, you can create the coverage you want to see in the world." This philosophy underpins Helium's mission to democratize network infrastructure and empower individuals to participate in building essential communication systems.

Helium's Evolution and Network Growth

Helium was founded in 2013 by Amir Haleem, Shawn Fanning, and Sean Carey with the ambitious goal of creating decentralized wireless infrastructure to support Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The project introduced Helium Hotspots in 2019, which function as miniature cell towers capable of creating peer-to-peer wireless networks that connect small, low-power devices across vast distances. These hotspots employ LongFi, an innovative protocol developed by Helium that combines the long-range capabilities of LoRaWAN with Helium's own blockchain infrastructure. Network participants who purchased and hosted hotspots received cryptocurrency tokens as compensation for providing nodes to the network. Today, Helium operates the world's largest LoRaWAN network with hundreds of thousands of active hotspots distributed across more than 170 countries, while simultaneously offering 5G cellular coverage across an expanding list of American cities and metropolitan areas. Amelia Daly from the Solana Foundation's ecosystem team characterizes Helium as "the quintessential representation of a DePIN project" due to its crowdsourced hardware approach, cost-effectiveness, collective ownership model, incentive alignment, and democratized accessibility.

Migration to Solana

When Helium originally developed its network infrastructure in its early operational years, the project operated on its own proprietary blockchain, which presented operational complexities as the network scaled. Initially, Helium enabled any user's hotspot to participate in the consensus mechanism that validated blockchain state, ensuring complete decentralization. However, as the network expanded, Scott Sigel explains that this arrangement created vulnerabilities. Since most hotspots were located in private residences backed by traditional internet service providers, widespread ISP outages could potentially disrupt the entire network's functionality. As Helium expanded its vision to become a "network of networks" by offering 5G node access to complement existing telecommunications coverage, the community recognized that managing multiple wireless standards and tokens would exceed the capacity of Helium's standalone blockchain. Following community deliberation and establishing critical requirements—including a substantial developer network, composability, enhanced token utility, and a robust smart contract platform—Solana emerged as the optimal choice. The Helium Foundation submitted the migration proposal to community vote, and the Helium community approved the transition by an overwhelming margin.

Technical Implementation and State Compression

Helium integrated into the Solana network by minting each hotspot as an NFT, leveraging Solana's state compression technology. State compression represents a transformative innovation that reduces compressed NFT minting costs to fractions of a penny compared to traditional uncompressed tokens. These NFTs serve multiple critical functions: they establish credentials, verify authenticity, provide developer-accessible data, and enable token-gated experiences. Scott Sigel emphasizes that "Compressed NFTs made the migration more economically viable by several orders of magnitude," and he notes that any project contemplating significant state transfers will benefit substantially from this technology. The migration process executed flawlessly without complications, representing one of the most significant layer 1 blockchain migrations ever undertaken, and it positions Helium to support continued expansion as the world's largest decentralized wireless network.

Unlocking new opportunities across Solana projects

Helium's successful migration to Solana catalyzes growth opportunities throughout the entire DePIN ecosystem. Amelia Daly observes that "Helium really represents the first DePIN business that things could be built on top of." Practical examples of this synergy have emerged within the ecosystem. Hivemapper, a project aiming to develop a democratized, user-generated world map powered by individual dashcams as an alternative to traditional mapping APIs, now utilizes Helium's infrastructure to verify driver locations. By tracking which Helium hotspots a Hivemapper dashcam transmits data through during a particular route, the network can authenticate that drivers are operating in their claimed locations without storing privacy-sensitive information. Scott Sigel celebrates these developments, stating, "It's great to see teams that are more people native to Solana thinking about how they can bring utility to Helium." This collaborative approach between Helium's hardware-native community and Solana's ecosystem demonstrates how connected hardware combined with real-world analytics unlocks unprecedented possibilities for decentralized infrastructure development and 5G deployment.

Conclusion

Helium's migration to Solana represents a watershed moment for decentralized physical infrastructure and blockchain technology generally. By successfully transitioning nearly one million hotspots to the Solana blockchain using state compression technology, Helium has demonstrated that decentralized networks can achieve massive scale while maintaining economic viability. The project exemplifies how blockchain technology extends beyond digital applications to address genuine real-world infrastructure needs, enabling communities to build and own the networks that serve them. Solana's interoperable ecosystem, combined with its cost efficiency and scalable innovations, positions the platform as an ideal foundation for future DePIN projects offering 5G and wireless connectivity solutions. As demonstrated through partnerships like that with Hivemapper, Helium's infrastructure now serves as a foundational layer enabling other decentralized projects to verify location data and build trust-based services. Looking forward, Helium and Solana's collaboration will likely accelerate the development of decentralized, community-operated wireless infrastructure that benefits both businesses and users by creating more resilient, equitable, and accessible 5G networks.

FAQ

What is Helium 5G?

Helium 5G is an expansion of the Helium Network enabling users to earn MOBILE tokens by deploying 5G gateways using CBRS network and small cell radios, enhancing the network's wireless infrastructure capabilities.

Can anyone connect to a Helium hotspot?

No, not anyone. Helium hotspots require proper setup and network credentials to connect. Only authorized devices with correct access credentials can join a specific hotspot network. The hotspot owner controls connectivity permissions.

Is helium mobile really free?

Yes, Helium Mobile offers a genuinely free plan that rewards users with HNT tokens for network participation. Unlike traditional carriers, there are no hidden fees or mandatory charges. You can use the service completely free while earning rewards.

How do I get a Helium 5G hotspot?

Purchase a Helium 5G hotspot device from official retailers or authorized vendors. Set up the device following the provided instructions, connect it to power and internet, then register it on the Helium Network. You'll start earning HNT tokens for providing 5G wireless coverage.

How does Helium Mobile compare to traditional carriers?

Helium Mobile combines decentralized community-run hotspots with traditional carrier coverage, offering free service with no monthly fees. It leverages blockchain technology and incentivizes users through token rewards, providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional carriers.

What is HNT token and how does it relate to Helium 5G?

HNT is the native token of the Helium network, providing decentralized wireless connectivity for IoT and 5G devices. HNT rewards network participants who operate hotspots and contribute to building Helium's decentralized infrastructure ecosystem.