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Article: Decentralized Wireless Networks (DeWi) in Solana's DePIN Ecosystem

Use Case:

• Residential Connectivity: Projects delivering affordable broadband to end-users, like Andrena.

• Enterprise Connectivity: Business-focused solutions like XNET offering Wi-Fi and 5G for commercial clients.

• IoT and Low-Power Coverage: Networks built for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, like Helium’s LoRaWAN infrastructure.

Geographic Focus:

• Developed Markets: Targeting areas with dense populations and existing infrastructure, like the U.S. and Europe.

• Emerging Markets: Expanding into regions with low internet access, like India and parts of Africa.

• Global: Projects with worldwide ambitions, often starting in developed markets and expanding into emerging ones.

Market Segment:

• B2C (Business-to-Consumer): Direct-to-consumer models with affordable hardware.

• B2B (Business-to-Business): Partnerships with companies such as telecom providers or property managers.

• Hybrid: A mix of B2C and B2B models, encouraging both individuals and organizations to participate in the network.

This taxonomy will be visualized in the market map, which organizes each project based on their strategic focus and approach.

Below is an overview of the top DeWi projects within the Solana ecosystem, focusing on Helium, Andrena, and XNET. Each is analyzed by business model, geographic focus, hardware specs, and current traction.

What It Does:
Helium is a pioneer in DeWi, operating a global network that combines IoT connectivity (via LoRaWAN) and 5G mobile services. Users deploy hotspots to provide wireless coverage and earn tokens (HNT and MOBILE) as rewards.

Business Model:
Hybrid (B2C and B2B). In the B2C model, individuals purchase and run hotspots to earn rewards. On the B2B side, Helium Mobile acts as a virtual mobile carrier, partnering with major telcos like T-Mobile in the U.S. to offer affordable plans.

Hardware Specs:

• IoT Hotspots: Compact devices (e.g., RAK Wireless) with LoRaWAN range up to 10 km and low power usage (~5W).

• 5G Hotspots: More advanced devices (e.g., FreedomFi) supporting CBRS and 5G connectivity, typically requiring outdoor installation.

Geographic Focus:
Global presence, with a strong footprint in the U.S. (70% of hotspots), as well as in Europe and Asia. Helium Mobile is currently focused on the U.S. market, with plans to expand into emerging regions.

Traction:

• Over 300,000 IoT hotspots and 3,000 5G hotspots deployed globally as of April 2025.

• Helium Mobile reports 112,000 users in the U.S., offering unlimited data for $20/month.

• More than 60,000 monthly active wallets in the Solana ecosystem driven by Helium activity.

Market Position:
Helium is the DeWi leader in scale and brand recognition, dominating the IoT segment and rapidly expanding into 5G. Its community-first model drives adoption, though the complexity of installing 5G hardware remains a challenge.

What It Does:
Andrena develops the DAWN (Decentralized Autonomous Wireless Network) protocol, allowing users to share broadband via rooftop antennas, lowering connectivity costs.

Business Model:
Started as B2C, now moving to a hybrid model. Andrena sells internet services directly to consumers and plans to allow users to resell excess bandwidth through DAWN. It also partners with property managers to offer free internet in shared spaces (B2B).

Hardware Specs:

• Compact mmWave antennas for point-to-multipoint connections.

• Plug-and-play with ~20W power consumption.

• Fiber backbone integration for high-speed connections (up to 1 Gbps).

Geographic Focus:
United States, covering 10 states (e.g., New York, Texas, Florida). Planning global expansion after DAWN mainnet launch.

Traction:

• Raised $38M, including an $18M round led by Dragonfly Capital in 2024.

• DAWN is live on Solana testnet, aiming to cover 3M homes at launch.

• Hundreds of homes connected, with accelerated growth post-funding.

Market Position:
Andrena stands out for easy setup and focus on underserved residential areas. Its "solar-panel-style internet" model—where users generate and sell bandwidth—is unique, though reliance on fiber may limit rural scalability.

What It Does:
XNET is a decentralized neutral mobile operator offering Wi-Fi Passpoint and 5G offloading for enterprises and carriers. It targets dense areas like stadiums and corporate campuses.

Business Model:
Pure B2B. XNET partners with telcos and companies to deploy DeWi infrastructure, rewarding deployers per GB of data transmitted.

Hardware Specs:

• Enterprise-grade hotspots with Hotspot 2.0 and 5G support.

• High-capacity gear (hundreds of simultaneous connections), ~50W power use.

• Seamless integration with existing LTE/5G networks.

Geographic Focus:
United States, with plans to expand to Europe and Asia. Initial focus on dense urban areas.

Traction:

• Initial telco partnerships in the US with pilot deployments in high-traffic zones.

• Integrated with Sphere Pay and Kamino in Solana ecosystem to onboard users.

• Early-stage project with strong support from the Solana community.

Market Position:
XNET is the enterprise player, serving high-demand environments. It avoids direct competition with Helium and Andrena but faces telecom giants like Nokia and Ericsson. Solana integration gives it speed and tokenization advantages.

The DeWi scene on Solana is diverse, with each project serving a different niche:

• Helium dominates IoT and is entering mobile via Helium Mobile. Strong global scale and community, but hardware complexity and 5G competition may limit growth.

• Andrena focuses on affordable home broadband, competing with traditional ISPs like Comcast in the US. Value prop is low cost and simplicity, but infrastructure needs could slow global scale.

• XNET aims at enterprise networks, avoiding overlap with Helium and Andrena. Faces big players like Ericsson but wins on tokenization and integration speed.

Visual Market Map (described below) highlights these differences, placing each project on a matrix with axes for “Use Case” (IoT, Residential, Enterprise) and “Geographic Scale” (Local, National, Global).

Current Market Size:
DeWi is a subset of the DePIN sector, which is estimated to be worth $10–20B globally. DeWi represents about 20% ($2–4B). Solana-based projects show:

• Helium: ~$50M annual revenue (network fees + Helium Mobile), HNT market cap ~$1.2B (April 2025).

• Andrena: ~$5–10M revenue from US broadband services; $100M valuation post-funding.

• XNET: Revenue < $1M but high B2B growth potential.

Total Addressable Market (TAM):
Estimated at $3.5T by 2028 (some say up to $5T), driven by:

• Global Connectivity Demand: 2.7B people still offline, especially in emerging markets.

• 5G & IoT Adoption: Forecast of 26B IoT devices by 2030 fuels low-power networks like Helium.

• Decentralization Trend: Pushback against telecom monopolies (e.g., Verizon, AT&T) favors DeWi models.

Project TAM Projections:

• Helium: Could capture 10–15% of DeWi (~$350–525B) by 2030 with Helium Mobile growth.

• Andrena: Residential TAM $500B; potential 2–5% share ($10–25B).

• XNET: Enterprise infrastructure TAM $200B; target 1–3% share ($2–6B) over 5 years.

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact AI is reshaping DeWi via:

• Network Optimization: AI analyzes traffic in real-time to balance bandwidth—e.g., Helium uses AI for hotspot coverage.

• Predictive Maintenance: XNET uses AI to detect hardware issues before they happen.

• AI + DePIN: Combining DeWi with decentralized compute (e.g., Nosana on Solana) allows hotspots to run AI tasks, creating new revenue streams.

2. Regulatory Shifts

• Shared Spectrum: US CBRS (3.5 GHz) boosts private 5G adoption (benefits Helium/XNET). Other countries (e.g., Japan, Germany) are also opening up spectrum.

• Privacy & Security: GDPR-like rules force DeWi to improve data protections—ZK-proofs could help.

• Net Neutrality: Decentralized networks seen as fairer alternatives to ISPs could gain policy support.

3. Other Trends

• DeFi Integration: Projects like Andrena aim to use tokens and DeFi for bandwidth markets.

• Emerging Markets: Low internet access in Africa and South America = big opportunity (Helium already active in Brazil and India).

• Modular Hardware: New hotspots will support LoRaWAN, 5G, and Wi-Fi in one device.

The visual market map is a 2x3 matrix showing DeWi projects by:

• X-axis (Use Case): IoT, Residential, Enterprise

• Y-axis (Geographic Scale): National, Global

Visual Notes:

• Helium: “IoT / Global” quadrant, hotspot icon with global coverage lines.

• Andrena: “Residential / National” quadrant, home antenna icon, US-focused.

• XNET: “Enterprise / National” quadrant, corporate infrastructure icon in urban setting.

Colors:

• Helium = blue (scale)

• Andrena = green (accessibility)

• XNET = purple (premium)

Annotations:

• “112K Helium Mobile users”

• “$38M raised by Andrena”

Taxonomy Chart:

• X-axis: Business Model (B2C, B2B, Hybrid)

• Y-axis: Market Tier (Low-End, Mid-Tier, High-End)

• Each Project = Circle: Size = traction (Helium > Andrena > XNET)

The DeWi sector within Solana's DePIN ecosystem is leading the future of connectivity. Helium, Andrena, and XNET are reshaping how we connect—globally, at home, and in enterprise spaces. Each offers a unique model: Helium’s global community, Andrena’s home-first simplicity, and XNET’s enterprise-grade solutions.

With the total addressable market expected to reach $3.5T by 2028, powered by AI, regulatory shifts, and demand from underserved regions, DeWi is positioned to redefine global connectivity. Solana’s scalability and vibrant ecosystem make it the perfect launchpad for this innovation wave.