FAQ
Most frequent questions and answers
The two main decentralized wireless protocols for cellular coverage are the Helium Network and Pollen Mobile. These projects use a crypto economic model to incentivize network coverage.
The Helium 5G network uses an incentive token called $MOBILE. This can also be exchanged for the layer 1 Helium Network Token (HNT).
Pollen Mobile uses Pollencoin (PCN) to reward network participants.
The typical setup uses 20W of power. This is equivalent to 2-3 LED light bulbs, or less than $1 per week.
During the Proof of Coverage phase, the data requirements are very minimal (<5 mbps).
Decentralized wireless coverage is built using the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) range. This is an open spectrum, meant to give general access to anyone in the US to build cellular coverage in their community.
The CBRS spectrum can be used for both 5G or 4G LTE coverage. The “G” simply stands for the generation of cellular technology, not the frequency strength. The current decentralized wireless equipment is certified for LTE, but provides equivalent performance to 5G coverage in the same spectrum.
Any mobile device with a compatible SIM card can connect to the network. The Helium Network currently utilizes physical SIM cards, while Pollen Mobile also has the option for eSIMs.
Decentralized networks make security a top priority. They use Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 128 to secure the data traffic across the network. This ensures privacy for users.