An Introduction to Helium Network

TABLE OF CONTENT:

1. What is Helium(HNT)?

2. Utility

3. Team/Founders 

4. Key Differentiators

5. Helium Recent Developments

WHAT IS HELIUM?

Helium is a blockchain-based wireless network designed for IoT(Internet of Things) devices. It is essentially a decentralised peer-to-peer platform for wireless internet connection which allows internet users around the world to connect their devices to the IoT network wirelessly and safely.

The native token of the Helium network is known as HNT. It is the utility token that is used to power the network. For example, Helium users are rewarded with HNT for each successful hot spot transfer conducted on the network and they are granted access to the Helium's apps premium features.

The Helium network was launched in 2013 to reduce the dependence of people on local internet infrastructure providers thus enabling internet users to connect to the internet at a breakneck speed and with privacy in mind. In essence, it was designed to provide excellent and efficient IoT solutions to the challenges in the traditional IoT sector.

Helium users can send data or information to other devices using the Helium decentralised platform. Data and information are then stored/relayed using the Helium hot spots which are powered by LoRaWAN, a wide area media protocol, to achieve public network communication coverage.

On the internet of things (IoT)devices, privacy is a common problem, especially among well-known IoTs devices. However, the emergence of Helium as a decentralised, wireless blockchain network, seeks to address the issues of privacy breaches resulting from IOT devices to the internet.

UTILITY OF HELIUM

The following are the some of the main utilities of the Helium network;

1. The Helium network enables communication across IoT devices while sending data across its network nodes.

2. Through the end-to-end encryption, the privacy of Helium users are guaranteed across the network.

3. The  Helium network provides its users with hotspots that allow them to own and navigate IoT devices at a low cost. 

4. Helium Users are rewarded with HNT tokens during hotspots communication transmission. 

KEY DIFFERENTIATORS OF HELIUM

1. Users spend less on Helium compared to other networks as they are not required to purchase any other components to connect with devices. Users only need to pay for their internet connection. 

2. Helium is well-known for providing cheap internet access compared to the traditional cellular internet networks.

3. The network gives users a way of earning through the mining of HNT, its native token.

4. The network is widely used for Venture Capital findings and has lots of users. Compared to other IoT devices' connection networks, Helium has a large number of wealthy investors. The number keeps increasing every year, thus making the project more solid.

5. The network ensures the security of all information relayed across the platform through end-to-end encryption. This help secure sensitive information and thus makes it a reliable network.

6. The helium blockchain utilizes strong batteries with a life-span “measured in years”. This sharply contrasts it to the cellular chips used for most networks.

7. Helium network operates with lower operating charges compared to other networks. 

8. The network can operate over a large coverage area. 

TEAM/FOUNDERS OF HELIUM 

Helium Inc. was founded in 2013 by Shawn Fanning,  Sean Carey,  and Amir Haleem as a telecommunications company with its headquarters located in California, USA. 

Shawn Fanning, a Helium co-founder, was popular in the late 90s for co-founding Napster, a music sharing protocol, that was among the top P2P music streaming platforms that offered internet services; Amir Haleem carved a niche for himself in the gaming industry; and Sean Carey, another co-founder of the network,worked in several innovative companies, including a Growth marketing start-up before participating in the Helium development. 

The Helium team comprises technological experts with a wealth of experience in providing solutions to issues surrounding P2P internet communication,  distributed systems, blockchain technologies, etc.

The Helium Inc, the main company behind the Helium network,  ventured into the cryptocurrency industry in 2019, and ever since it has recorded remarkable growth. For example, in 2021, the network recorded massive success and has thousands of users from around the world.

According to Helium explorer (the network's analytic platform), the network currently has close to a million hotspots operating in different countries across the world. Since the launch of Helium, the networks team has continued to tackle several challenges facing the IoT sector.

RECENT PROJECT DEVELOPMENTS

1. The Helium Network announced a partnrship with dish network in an attempt to expand its 5G network. 

2. The Helium Network recently partnered with T-mobile to further expand its 5G network. 

3. Helium Network community recently voted to migrate to the Solana blockchain 

4. The Helium Network announces its recent project that supports users by rewarding them with crypto tokens. 

6. The network launched its mobile application that allows users to track hotspots and controls their tokens.