I first became aware of Helium while working directly on their Mobile release in the United States (Helium 5G). As a result, my review is biased towards my knowledge of their Mobile roadmap and their partners, such as HeliumDeploy, who are working with deployers in the United States in key cities during their Genesis stage.
The Helium team and roadmap are impressive. The decentralized internet provision industry is exploding with innovation in the United States, from Wi-Fi gateways in coffee shops to large antennas (radios/hotspots) on the roofs of homes and city buildings. However, the industry is still in its early stages, and reaching a network effect seems to be a long way off.
Overall, Helium is a promising project with a strong team and a clear roadmap. However, the industry is still in its early stages, and it remains to be seen whether Helium will be able to achieve its goals.
I would like to add that Helium's approach to decentralized internet provision is innovative and has the potential to disrupt the traditional telecommunications industry. The traditional approach to internet provision requires the installation of expensive and complex infrastructure, such as 4G/5G antennas. This infrastructure is often difficult to maintain and can be a barrier to entry for new providers.
Helium's approach to decentralized internet provision, on the other hand, is much more scalable and cost-effective. Helium's network is built on a peer-to-peer model, where individual users can purchase and operate Helium Hotspots. These Hotspots act as both network nodes and gateways, providing coverage for other devices in the network.
The cost of purchasing and operating a Helium Hotspot is significantly lower than the cost of installing and maintaining traditional telecommunications infrastructure (installation of a T-Mobile site is normally around $35,000). This makes Helium's network more accessible to new providers and could lead to increased competition in the telecommunications industry.
As the demand for data continues to grow, traditional telecommunications providers are facing increasing pressure to expand their networks. Helium's decentralized approach to internet provision could provide a more cost-effective and scalable solution for these providers. As a result, it is possible that traditional telecommunications providers may start to buy up or lease Helium Hotspots in the near future.
This would allow these providers to expand their networks without having to invest in expensive and complex infrastructure. It would also allow them to tap into the growing demand for decentralized internet provision.
Can Helium 5G reach the network coverage it needs to be taken seriously? Time will tell... Show Less
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