How to Deploy Internet of Things (IoT) Solutions on the Helium LoRaWAN® Network

How does the Helium network reduce friction for IoT solution deployments?

One thing that all IoT device deployments have in common is a need for IoT network coverage. The lack of ubiquitous IoT network coverage is actually the biggest barrier to more commercial-scale device deployments. The network coverage dilemma transcends the issue of simple fixed-network propagation maps to complex shared-network-access NaaS contracts that need to navigate corporate network IT security policies and legal reviews. The ideal tenets for all IoT networks are: 

• Expansive network coverage. The more pre-existing fixed network coverage, the better. Having to deploy a gateway to every site is costly, in terms of both time and money.
• Those deploying IoT solutions must have the ability to cost-effectively self-deploy new network coverage to new greenfield sites quickly. No existing commercial network in the world has achieved 100% coverage—there are always gaps. 
• Network access must be ubiquitous, cost-effective, and able to scale with actual device data use–with no monthly minimums or expiration dates. High non-recurring engineering (NRE) and NaaS fees for IoT devices greatly limit the scope and scale of IoT solution deployments with a positive return on investment (ROI). As the IoT network capital and operating expenses decrease, the number of IoT solution deployments with positive ROI increases. 

By enabling everyone to be rewarded equally for building out network coverage, the Helium community has deployed the largest LoRaWAN network compatible fixed-network coverage in the world. Take a moment to explore Helium fixed-network coverage via the Helium Explorer, Helium mappers, or Helium cargo projects. Interestingly, many metro areas in the U.S. and Europe have dense enough existing coverage to allow a number of outdoor IoT deployments today–without any additional gateway deployments.

Figure 2: Helium Network coverage in Chicago, Illinois from Helium Explorer

For greenfield locations, anyone can easily deploy additional Hotspots on campuses or farms, in rural locations or deep indoors, for coverage in areas that need dedicated gateways. The Helium blockchain automatically rewards Hotspot deployers with HNT tokens for providing additional network coverage and for processing LoRaWAN packet transfers.

Figure 3: Rural coverage in Murray, Kentucky from cargo.helium.com

Another unique benefit of using a public blockchain for managing all of the monetization and multi-tenancy accounting of a ubiquitous IoT network is that it happens with almost no internal accounting or legal overhead. This is actually one of the most meaningful enablers driving Helium network adoption. Most commercial Helium IoT deployments don’t happen at a single site, or occur only at privately-owned sites. There is mutual value to IoT solution providers, their customers, and their entire commercial supply chain in allowing shared access to a ubiquitous IoT network at private sites, throughout public metropolitan areas and transportation corridors, and inside commercial partner facilities. Many IoT use cases, like field-to-table food tracking, require the ability for devices to roam seamlessly across private and public networks.

Figure 4: Cold Chain Supply Example