The Index Podcast Future of Crypto Wireless | Solana & Helium Mobile with Frank Mong, COO of Nova Labs
What if you could rebuild telecom from the ground up—open, decentralized, and powered by crypto? In this episode of The Index, host Alex Kehaya chats with Frank Mong, COO of Nova Labs, the team behind Helium Mobile—the decentralized wireless network now partnering with AT&T and Telefónica.
Helium started with a bold idea: replace legacy cell towers with a community-powered network. The key unlock? Blockchain incentives. After years of experimentation, they figured out how to bootstrap real wireless coverage—starting indoors, where traditional carriers fail.
Frank breaks down how modern buildings kill cell signal, and how Helium turns everyday Wi-Fi routers into indoor cell towers using open-source tools and a crypto-powered incentive model. Now users and businesses can earn rewards while improving service—no billion-dollar infrastructure required.
Even more interesting? Helium’s data lives on Solana. That transparency gives enterprise partners real-time visibility into network quality—something they can’t get from legacy providers.
And for users, the payoff is real: free phone plans (3GB/month, no credit card), plus affordable upgrades that save families hundreds.
We also dive into:
- Why blockchain is the missing link for decentralized wireless
- How Helium’s staking and incentive model works
- What it means to build infrastructure at startup speed
If you're building in Web3, care about real-world utility, or just want better phone service, this one’s for you.
Helium Mobile: https://heliummobile.com/
X Channel: https://x.com/helium_mobile