Today Helium Mobile has announced that it’s being acquired by Noble Mobile. Helium Mobile launched back in 2023 with a hybrid network. It relied on T-Mobile just like any other MVNO, but it also had its own decentralized “people-powered” network comprising over 100,000 user-operated mini cell towers deployed across the US.
It also made waves with its free Zero Plan, launched last year and discontinued a few weeks ago. There was a lot of talk of crypto rewards too because crypto was still the thing in 2023 apparently (before it gave way to AI as the new buzzword). Now, though, Helium Mobile will change ownership (but the brand will remain around).
As part of the acquisition, Noble Mobile has committed to using the “people-powered” Helium Network, though it’s unclear for how long. There will be “no scrambling and no lost coverage” during the transition, Helium Mobile promises. If you are a Helium Mobile subscriber, you can keep your phone number and “expect the same high-quality service” that you’re used to.
The founders of Helium Mobile will now focus on “building an intelligent connectivity platform that takes everything the Helium Network has demonstrated and opens it up so any carrier or connected service can build on it, including Noble Mobile”.