Noble Mobile, the affordability-focused telco founded by former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, has acquired Helium Mobile — the crypto-powered cellular service built on the decentralized Helium network. The deal pairs Noble’s mission to lower telecom costs with Helium Mobile’s crowd-built connectivity, and the companies say customers will benefit from cheaper plans aimed at disrupting the big carriers.
Why the deal matters
- Continuity for users: Helium Mobile subscribers can keep their phone numbers and will continue to access the same 5G network powered by T-Mobile, Helium Mobile COO Frank Mong told Decrypt.
- Helium network stays in play: Noble has agreed to use Helium’s decentralized network as part of the acquisition. That network, now running on Solana, is made up of nearly 139,000 mobile hotspots that act like miniature cell towers.
- Strategic refocus for Nova Labs: Nova Labs, the team that founded Helium and launched Helium Mobile, said the move lets it concentrate on the “network business,” which it sees as its largest growth opportunity. Mong noted the company has recently onboarded major U.S. carriers to offload traffic at scale and that the Helium network already serves millions of users daily.
Background and metrics
- Helium Mobile once offered a free mobile plan but recently discontinued it. The merged company says it will push low-cost service plans to compete with traditional carriers.
- The Helium network has been used by established providers such as AT&T and Telefónica to extend or fill coverage gaps.
- According to Helium World’s dashboard, the mobile network supports more than 2.6 million daily users and generates over $47,000 in daily revenue.
- The network’s economic layer remains unchanged: hotspot operators earn HNT, the Solana-based token that rewards coverage. HNT recently traded down nearly 7% on the day to about $0.64, leaving it roughly 28% lower over the past 30 days.
What to watch
- Whether Noble leverages Helium’s decentralized infrastructure to deliver genuinely cheaper plans at scale.
- How Nova Labs’ renewed focus on carrier partnerships impacts network adoption and hotspot economics.
- The HNT market: adoption and traffic offload deals could influence token demand and operator incentives.
Bottom line: The acquisition hands Helium Mobile to a telco with a public, affordability-driven mission and keeps the decentralized Helium network central to the service. For the crypto-telecom sector, it’s a bet on combining crowd-sourced wireless infrastructure with mainstream carrier partnerships to challenge legacy providers.
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