Movistar brings Helium network to over 2 million subscribers in Mexico

By Helium

This press release was published in English using an automatic translation system

 March 04, 2025 07:11 PM Eastern Standard Time

SAN FRANCISCO-- Movistar , Telefónica's mobile operator in Mexico, and Helium, a pioneer in decentralized wireless communications, are beginning to deploy the Helium Network, which will enable service for more than 2 million Movistar subscribers across Mexico. This initial phase of the partnership will include expansion of the network to more than 300 sites.

In 2024, Movistar and Helium carried out a pilot project with real Movistar customers. The pilot aimed to expand the operator's coverage in the country in certain areas to allow the offloading of mobile data traffic to the Helium Network. This was made possible thanks to a jointly designed architecture that allows Movistar subscribers to seamlessly connect to the Helium Network.

This expansion accelerates mass adoption of the Helium Network and reduces costs for Movistar. The Helium community will deploy Helium mobile hotspots, which will be available for purchase at Movistar retail stores and online channels, to rapidly expand coverage in Mexico. As part of this agreement, Movistar will also be able to resell Helium Network coverage to other local MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators).

Successful pilots in Mexico City and Oaxaca highlight the potential of Helium's decentralized wireless technology. During the pilot phase, Movistar subscribers downloaded an average of 390 MB of data per day to the Helium network (the equivalent of five hours of social media browsing or sending 3,900 emails) and maintained approximately one hour of daily connection time.

Together, Helium and Movistar are revolutionizing the traditional telecommunications business model with a bold new business model that leverages network infrastructure that operates as mini, human-powered cell towers, rather than giant, centrally operated cell towers. This model dramatically reduces overall infrastructure costs for operators while simultaneously improving coverage for consumers. As a major player in the telecommunications industry, Movistar’s adoption of this people-powered model demonstrates the potential of decentralized wireless technology and places Mexico at the forefront of cutting-edge technology.

“At Telefónica Movistar México, we are focused on working under an alliance model that allows us to accelerate technological deployment and provide better quality to users, while generating efficiencies. We are seeing what is possible and exploring how a people-driven network can bring more value to Telefónica and our subscribers throughout Mexico. This alliance will be a milestone in the transformation of connectivity, with Mexico at the forefront,” said Camilo Aya Caro, President and CEO of Telefónica Movistar México.

Today, the Helium network has nearly 59,000 hotspots deployed across Mexico and the United States and more than 300,000 daily subscribers from Helium Mobile and other major carriers already using the network. Anyone can contribute to building the Helium network by setting up a hotspot at a local business, retail store, event venue, or other location with high foot traffic. In return, hotspot owners receive a cryptocurrency reward for providing coverage and connecting nearby phones. The more phone data the hotspots transfer, the more the hotspot owner can earn.

“Helium is on a mission to make connectivity more affordable for the masses,” said Mario Di Dio, General Manager of Networks at Helium . “Collaborating with Movistar amplifies our vision of decentralized connectivity, inviting millions of their subscribers to use the Helium network.”

A global corporate project

In this initiative, Movistar Mexico has had the support of Telefónica Innovación Digital, the company of the Telefónica Group that promotes innovation and the creation of technologies to continue projecting the future. Together with Helium, it has developed a pioneering controller solution that can be integrated with other operators that want to implement decentralized telecommunications networks based on Helium's blockchain technology.

Helium is also part of the portfolio of startups in which Wayra, Telefónica's corporate venture capital fund, invests. This investment reinforces Telefónica's strategy of attracting innovation and developing solutions that increase its technological capacity and offer innovative solutions that improve customer service and optimize operating costs.

Learn more at helium.com/mexico .

About Telefónica Movistar Mexico

Telefónica Movistar México has more than 24 million customers in the country and is part of Telefónica Hispanoamérica, one of the largest telecommunications service providers in the region. The company, which operates under the Movistar brand, offers fixed broadband connectivity services – with FTTH solutions – and mobile with 4G and 5G networks, as well as a wide range of digital services for 113 million residential and business customers in the region. Telefónica Hispanoamérica offers its services in: Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina.

About Helium

Helium is on a mission to revolutionize connectivity by empowering people to help build a more open, secure, and affordable network. Through its decentralized global network, anyone can create wireless coverage for their community and earn rewards for participating. Together, we are shaping a future where affordable connectivity and access to information is within reach for everyone, everywhere. Learn more at helium.com .

Nova Labs, Inc., founders of Helium Network, is invested by Telefónica Ventures , Telefónica's Corporate Venture Capital vehicle for strategic investments that fit the company and attract innovation developed by third parties quickly and that can be integrated within the Group.

Helium™ is a registered trademark of Decentralized Wireless Foundation, Inc. used under license.

The original source-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided for accommodation only and should be cross-checked with the source-language text, which is the only version of the text that will have legal effect.