November 17 2025
According to Frank Mong, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Nova Labs, decentralizing telecommunications networks can financially benefit both small businesses and large telecom companies. Nova Labs is behind the Helium Network, which revolves around decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN).
In an interview with Cointelegraph At Consensus 2025 in Toronto, Canada, Mong highlighted that local entrepreneurs such as bars, restaurants and other small businesses can create a new revenue stream by hosting wireless hotspots and expanding their network. Large telecom companies and service providers can also take advantage of Helium’s network telemetry to reduce their operational costs and expand their network in underserved areas.
Mong further clarified that the start-up costs for telecom companies are high, with around $300.000 needed to set up a single tower. For 5G to work effectively, one tower is needed per block. He asked, “Instead of building these towers and making mobile plans more expensive, what if everyone with a usable Wi-Fi network shared it? Not only would this allow for safe use for everyone, but it would also give big companies like AT&T access to the telemetry from that network.”
The rise of decentralized physical infrastructure networks demonstrates how blockchain technologies can create real value and fortify existing infrastructure against outages, disruptions, censorship, and critical failures.
In January 2024, Nova Labs announced a partnership with Latin American telecom company Telefónica to expand coverage in unconnected areas and reduce network disruptions. In late April 2025, Helium entered into a partnership with AT&T, allowing AT&T users to automatically access the Helium network when they are within range of mobile hotspots.
According to data from the Helium network, the United States has the highest concentration of 95.272 mobile hotspots currently active. There are also 284.053 active Internet of Things (IoT) hotspots worldwide. Mong affirmed: “What we have done in the United States and Mexico should be implemented worldwide.”
Nova Labs is currently focused on expanding coverage by partnering with telecom infrastructure providers in new regions.
How do small businesses benefit from the Helium network?
Small businesses can generate additional revenue by hosting wireless hotspots, helping them expand their network coverage and serve consumers in underserved areas.
What are the benefits of partnering with major telecom companies?
Partnerships with major telecom companies like AT&T help small carriers expand their reach and take advantage of telemetry to reduce operational costs.
What is the role of blockchain in decentralized networks?
Blockchain technology provides transparency, security and resilience to networks, minimizing the risks of outages and censorship and creating real value.
In summary, the evolution of the Helium network shows how decentralization can not only transform the telecom sector, but also offer significant economic opportunities for local entrepreneurs and large companies. The future promises interesting developments in this dynamic and fast-growing sector.
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