AT&T Leans Into Helium’s Decentralized Network—Because Even Telecom Giants Need Crypto’s Help Now

Big Telecom meets blockchain: AT&T just inked a deal with Helium to patch its coverage gaps using decentralized Wi-Fi hotspots. Crowdsourced connectivity—with a crypto twist.

Why it matters: When legacy players start swallowing their pride and tapping DePIN (decentralized physical infrastructure) projects, you know the model’s gone mainstream. Or they’re desperate to avoid capex. Probably both.

The kicker: Helium’s tokenomics better hold up—nothing kills innovation like a bear market. Meanwhile, AT&T shareholders are just praying this doesn’t mean ‘dividend cuts’ disguised as ‘web3 partnerships.’

Passpoint Wi-Fi

Subscribers will gain seamless access via Passpoint Wi-Fi authentication, enabling their devices to connect to nearby Helium Hotspots when available automatically. This hybrid approach aims to fill service gaps in areas where traditional infrastructure is limited by cost or logistics.

“Working with AT&T is a massive step forward in our mission to bring affordable and accessible connectivity to the masses,” said Helium Co-founder and Helium Mobile CEO Amir Haleem.

AT&T joins other carriers like Telefónica’s Movistar in leveraging Helium’s infrastructure to reduce operational costs and improve service. 

The announcement comes as Helium celebrates key milestones, including the launch of its Zero Plan — the first free mobile plan in the U.S. — and rapid growth in Mexico, where Movistar is helping expand the network to over two million users.

Earlier this year, the U.S. SEC dropped its case against Nova Labs, which had accused the Helium Network team of selling unregistered securities. The case was dismissed with prejudice, ending uncertainty over the regulatory status of certain tokens.