Helium rockets more than 300% after Texas city taps network to expand mobile coverage

Helium’s HNT surged more than 300% following the launch of a connectivity rollout in Celina, Texas, where the city is using existing Wi-Fi at public facilities and local businesses to extend mobile coverage through the Helium Network.

The token rose from about $0.22 to $0.44 following the announcement before extending its rally over the weekend to hit as high as $0.96, per CoinGecko.

As reported, the fastest-growing US city is tapping the Helium Network to expand connectivity as rapid growth drives demand for mobile coverage across new neighborhoods and public spaces that conventional cell-tower infrastructure, which can take years to plan and permit, may not address quickly enough.

Through its partnership with Helium, the city is enabling carrier offload on Wi-Fi already deployed across public buildings and participating downtown businesses. Phones automatically connect to the Helium Network when users are within range, with no app, account or manual configuration required.

The Helium Network is now live at public locations such as the Celina Public Library and Ralph O’Dell Senior Center, along with participating businesses in downtown Celina. The network already handles roughly 100GB of traffic per day, while more locations are expected to be added this fall.

Celina joins cities such as Redondo Beach, New Orleans and Sausalito that are using Helium to address coverage gaps through existing infrastructure rather than new capital-intensive tower deployments. Helium said its US network has grown to more than 42,000 locations, providing connectivity to over 2.5 million people each day.