# Decentralized IoT Connectivity With Helium Hotspots | Helium's Jacob Swinn

- Show: [IoT For All Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast)
- Published: 2022-03-08
- Length: 20m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iot-for-all/episodes/Decentralized-IoT-Connectivity-With-Helium-Hotspots--Heliums-Jacob-Swinn-e28bmp8

## Summary

Jacob Swinn, Product Marketing Manager at Helium, explains how the company built a decentralized wireless network for IoT by incentivizing individuals to deploy hotspots with HNT cryptocurrency rewards. He details the network's rapid growth to half a million hotspots across 160 countries and compares Helium’s low-cost LoRaWAN connectivity favorably against traditional cellular providers like Verizon and AT&T. Swinn highlights specific use cases such as asset tracking, wildfire monitoring, and a partnership with the city of San Jose to fund internet access for low-income households, while noting ongoing challenges like supply chain issues and the need for broader industry education.

## Chapters

- [0:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn#t=4) Introduction and Guest Background
- [3:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn#t=209) Helium's History and Network Growth
- [5:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn#t=301) How Hotspots and HNT Rewards Work
- [6:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn#t=414) IoT Use Cases and San Jose Partnership
- [10:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn#t=635) Helium vs. Cellular Connectivity and Costs
- [13:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn#t=834) Starlink, Education, and Future Roadmap

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Helium (company)
- HNT (other)
- LoRaWAN (other)
- Verizon (company)
- AT&T (company)
- Starlink (company)
- San Jose (other)
- Cisco (company)
- Schneider Electric (company)
- Volvo (company)
- Activity (company)
- Sense (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Brandon Satrom Returns! Blues SVP talks Starnote, and cheap Satellite Communication!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2025-02-05-brandon-satrom-returns-blues-svp-talks-starnote-and-cheap-satellite-communicatio) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Satellite Iot: Space-Based Connectivity Solutions With Oli Potter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-10-24-satellite-iot-space-based-connectivity-solutions-with-oli-potter) (Over the Air)
- [Space Age Bluetooth with Alex Haro](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-07-09-space-age-bluetooth-with-alex-haro) (The Amp Hour)
- [Breaking IoT Connectivity Barriers with Chris Baird, CEO of OptConnect](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect) (Over the Air)
- [An Interview with Maarten Engelen](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to IoT For All Podcast.