Telefónica, a leading global telecommunications provider, partners with Nova Labs to helium mobile Hotspots in Mexico City and Oaxaca announced on wednesday. The hotspots, which leverage the encryption-based Helium 5G network, will allow Telefónica to offload mobile data traffic and expand its coverage in Mexico.
The two companies configured the hotspot to connect to the Telefónica network using the customer’s existing SIM card for authentication, while also allowing data transfer over the Helium 5G network. The proprietary Telefónica management system controls which customers have access to the Helium network and monitors hotspot status.
Helium Mobile is a wireless phone service created by Nova Labs, a startup that includes the founders of the decentralized Helium network. Helium earns cryptocurrency tokens by integrating a decentralized wireless network with connections shared by users running nodes or hotspots at home or work. Solana As an incentive for participation.
In the United States, the Helium mobile service was launched as a hybrid model in 2023. It uses connections from Helium 5G nodes when in range, but otherwise leverages T-Mobile’s nationwide 5G service as needed for service.
However, Telefónica is the first major wireless carrier to offer Helium Mobile hardware directly in Mexico’s latest plan. The company has approximately 383 million customers across Europe and Latin America.
“Telefónica is looking to expand its reach through innovative, affordable and collaboration-based solutions,” José Juan Haro, Telefónica’s chief wholesale and communications officer, said in a statement. “This program in Mexico is critical to evaluating the performance of this solution, customer satisfaction and associated costs. If successful, we expect to be able to integrate this program into the mobile network portfolios of several countries in the region.”
Nova Labs says its crowdsourcing model can significantly reduce infrastructure costs compared to traditional towers, while allowing community members to become part of the network. The companies claim that hotspots can be placed in small spaces to increase coverage of a targeted area.
“We are very excited about this transaction because it really validates the thesis we have for both Helium and Helium Mobile,” said Nova Labs CEO Amir Haleem. decryption. “In other words, we believe that Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network (DePIN) provides tremendous cost efficiencies, allows deployment in economically unfeasible locations, and allows communities to participate in providing useful services for their friends and family.”
“Bringing Telefónica on board, which has 20 million customers in Mexico alone, adds fuel to the fire we have already started here in the United States,” he added. “It shows how the DePIN project and carriers can work together to build coverage and benefit customers.”
Editor’s note: This article was created with the help of AI. Editing and Fact Checking Andrew Hayward.
