Helium is a decentralized IoT network. The network consists of “hotspots” (devices) that are maintained by “miners” all around the world. These miners earn incentives for maintaining this network of hotspots, and the hotspots communicate and coordinate to provide data services for end users. 

The network is designed to be decentralized, the rules for orchestration and data services are hard-coded into smart contracts that live on Helium’s blockchain.

Helium's algorithm,“Proof-of-Coverage”,  incentivizes the creation of this physically decentralized wireless IoT network.