By Claus Hetting, WiFi NOW CEO & Chairman
Wi-Fi offload – the idea that Wi-Fi network owners can earn money by carrying smartphone traffic ‘offloaded’ from mobile networks – has had a turbulent history and for the most part, the idea has promised plenty more than it has delivered. But this week may well have marked the turning point: Helium’s collaboration with AT&T is – we believe – evidence that offload is going mainstream. The reason? Blockhain technology plus a healthy dose of excellent entrepreneurship. Here’s our take on why and what could be next.
This week Helium – the world’s largest decentralised, blockchain-based Wi-Fi network – announced that it is collaborating with AT&T, which means that millions of AT&T mobile subs are now able to connect to more than 94,000 Helium Wi-Fi hotspots across the US and Mexico. It is not unheard of that mobile operators use third-party Wi-Fi (usually indoors in very specific locations but not often announced) to deliver improved mobile coverage and capacity. But this time, it’s different.
That’s because this new approach may actually scale. Firstly, the carriers (in this case AT&T but we expect more will join) appear ready to embrace it. There are indeed a few important technical reasons why Helium is attractive for offload: For the first time, target Wi-Fi APs will be able to communicate the quality of the available Wi-Fi on a per connection basis back to the carrier. In this way carriers are in control of the connectivity experience and can choose to offload to a particular Wi-Fi network or not.
This QoS innovation is incorporated in the RADIUS protocol and is today part of the Passpoint standard, which also makes Wi-Fi auto-connect (with no user intervention) possible. Helium is the first company (that we know of) to incorporate it. It’s a big deal because it delivers the QoS control that carriers want. Ultimately, smartphone subscribers will experience connecting to Wi-Fi that is better or at least as good as their current mobile connection. All of this will happen with no user interaction required.
For Wi-Fi network owners – which can be either owners of individual hotspots (APs) or even entire enterprise networks within a building, venue, etc. – Wi-Fi offload is an opportunity to earn actual money. Helium uses blockchain technology to make this happen, which means you can earn Helium tokens (crypto coins) or get the payout immediately in dollars, if you prefer. What is remarkable is that the average payout per hotspot per month as of writing is US$59 – yes, these are actual US dollars paid in cash or crypto tokens – per month. This won’t make you rich but it is very definitely real money. Don’t forget that hotspots in high-traffic areas might earn many times that figure.
Another reason why the Wi-Fi offload value proposition is different this time is precisely this: Blockhain. Helium’s blockchain network (based on Solana web3 technology) is designed to process micro-transactions extremely quickly, making it not only possible but actually efficient for even very small revenue streams to add up to someting meaningful. This has historically been an Achilles Heel for Wi-Fi offload projects as well as aggregated Wi-Fi networks in general: Settling very small (or any) dollar amounts efficiently. Remarkably, this issue now appears resolved.
Finally, Helium offers a toolbox (launched today as Helium World Carrier Toolkit) that mobile operators can use to understand and utilise the Helium Wi-Fi network better, which means it effectively becomes an extension of their own mobile network. All kinds of metrics and management options are available and – importantly – a carrier can indicate a coverage area of particular interest, which is then shared with prospective Helium hotspot owners in order that they may make the most of their Wi-Fi network investments. We believe that this is the kind of innovation and entrepreneurship that will – in time – make real Wi-Fi & mobile convergence happen at scale.
All entrepreneurs know that in business (as well as in technology), the devil is in the detail. At least for now – and from our vantage point – it looks like Helium really has created a Wi-Fi offload infrastructure solution and business model that will scale. It may even be the engine that delivers mobile coverage (using Wi-Fi) where there has been none before, which could make it ideal for emerging markets. It’s no accident that Helium is already rolling out their network in Mexico.
Don’t miss Helium’s Mario Di Dio speaking at Wi-Fi World Congress USA 2025 in Mountain View, California, on April 30. Read more here.
/Claus.
