Telefónica and Nova Labs, a specialist in decentralised wireless communications, have partnered to launch Helium mobile hotspots in Mexico.

Implemented with select users in Mexico City and Oaxaca, this will extend Telefónica’s coverage and should enable offloading of mobile data to the Helium mobile network and improve overall mobile coverage service.

Telefónica and Nova Labs have built an offering based on the OpenWifi standard developed by the Telecom Infra Project (telecominfraproject.com). This enables select Movistar customers in Mexico to access the Helium mobile network using their Movistar SIM cards for authentication.

The mobile hotspots are connected to a proprietary management system developed by Telefónica, which controls its customers’ automatic access to the Helium mobile network for mobile data sessions. Telefónica maintains full control of the user experience and monitors hotspot status before allowing access and downloading data over the Helium network. This combines the core cellular network with Helium network coverage and is designed to be deployed globally and leveraged by any operator.

The use of mobile hotspots reduces telecommunications infrastructure costs significantly, with lower capex and opex costs and minimal environmental impact. In addition, it enables a community of individuals and small business owners to deploy Helium hotspots and enable Telefónica to accelerate coverage growth while continuing to provide a service to its customers.

The Helium mobile network lets Telefónica direct and access new coverage where it is most needed. The hotspots are compact, discrete and easy to install, and can be deployed in small spaces, increasing mobile coverage and allowing mobile data to be offloaded from the core network to the Helium (hellohelium.com) network. This people-powered option increases mobile data coverage and is based on a transparent and immutable economic system managed by the Helium’s blockchain-based technology.

“Telefónica is exploring ways to expand coverage through innovative, lower-cost, cooperative-based options,” said José Juan Haro from Telefónica (www.telefonica.com). “This programme in Mexico is critical to evaluate performance and customer satisfaction and its associated costs. Our expectation, if successful, is to incorporate this into our portfolio of mobile networks in the different countries of the region.”

Amir Haleem, CEO of Nova Labs, added: “We are excited to partner with Telefonica to integrate our Helium mobile hotspot technology and expand coverage for their customers. This is a major advancement for the telco industry and will significantly reduce infrastructure cost while maintaining high quality service.”

Nova Labs (nova.xyz) is invested by Telefónica Ventures, Telefónica’s corporate venture capital vehicle for investments that fit with the company, attract innovation developed by third parties quickly and that can be integrated within the group.