What exactly is Helium?
Helium is a decentralized wireless network using low-power smart devices (IoT) to transmit and receive data to and from the internet. Coverage providers for the Helium Network are known as “miners”. Helium Miners purchase a Helium Hotspot to use RF radio signals to provide coverage in return for a payment in Helium tokens (abbreviated as the cryptocurrency HNT). Miners earn greater amounts of HNT if they transmit and receive with more Helium hotspots, so hotspot placement and antenna strength are key factors in HNT earning potential.
How does Proof-of-Coverage work?
Proof-of-Coverage verifies the miner’s Hotspots are honestly representing their location and the wireless network coverage they create from that location. This coverage verification is important because for the Helium Network to work Hotspots must be placed appropriately to ensure stable and reliable coverage for the devices connected to the network. Who might take advantage of the Helium Network? Anyone who uses devices to measure pet trackers, bike trackers, temperature, weight, water levels, soil sensors, or even mice killed in an electrified mousetrap (read more here). The Helium Network allows an inexpensive option to connect these low-data use devices over long distances, up to miles, where WiFi would be inaccessible and cellular data would cost prohibitively expensive.
Source: What Is Helium? – Rokland
