Why Proof-of-Coverage Is More Reliable Than a Carrier's Map

Carrier maps are probabilistic claims. They model theoretical coverage based on radio propagation models, not real-world RF conditions. This creates a verification gap between marketing and on-the-ground service.

Proof-of-Coverage is deterministic verification. Protocols like Helium's LoRaWAN network and Pollum's 5G network use cryptographic challenges to prove a physical radio transmitted a signal at a specific location and time. This shifts trust from corporate claims to cryptographic proof.

The reliability delta is measurable. A 2023 study by Mosaïque found carrier maps overstated urban 5G coverage by 22% on average. In contrast, a decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) like Helium provides a cryptographically-verified coverage heatmap, making network quality a transparent, auditable asset.

Carrier coverage maps are advertisements. They are marketing assets designed to sell subscriptions, not engineering documents. They lack verifiable, real-time data on signal strength, latency, or packet loss, creating a fundamental information asymmetry between the provider and the user.

Proof-of-Coverage is cryptographic verification. It transforms subjective claims into objective, on-chain proofs. A device, like a Helium Mobile phone, proves its location and connection quality via a decentralized network of validators, creating an immutable, auditable record of service.

This shifts power from marketing to mathematics. Users no longer need to trust a carrier's brochure; they trust a cryptographic system. This model, similar to how Chainlink verifies off-chain data for DeFi, applies cryptographic truth to physical infrastructure.

Evidence: The Helium Network has generated over 1 billion Proof-of-Coverage challenges, creating a dataset of real-world coverage that is more granular and tamper-proof than any FCC filing or carrier press release.

Carrier maps are marketing fiction. They show theoretical coverage, not real-world signal strength, latency, or reliability at your specific location.

Proof-of-Coverage is cryptographic attestation. It uses a network of hardware verifiers (like Helium Hotspots) to continuously challenge each other, generating on-chain proofs of location and RF performance.

The system enforces honesty. Verifiers that fail challenges or provide false data lose staked tokens, aligning economic incentives with accurate data reporting.

Evidence: The Helium Network's Nova Labs system has generated over 100 million verifiable Proof-of-Coverage challenges, creating a coverage map defined by cryptographic proof, not corporate PR.

Verifiable Proof vs. Marketing Claims: Carrier maps show advertised coverage, not actual RF signal. Proof-of-Coverage (PoC) uses cryptographic challenges to generate an immutable, on-chain record of physical network performance, creating a trustless attestation that a tower or small cell is operational.

Incentive Misalignment: A carrier's incentive is to sell subscriptions, which encourages overstating coverage. A decentralized network's incentive is to maximize token rewards, which requires honest, provable uptime. This aligns operator behavior directly with network quality.

Data Granularity and Freshness: Carrier maps are static, low-resolution polygons updated quarterly. A PoC system like Helium's generates continuous, hyperlocal data—validators can challenge any hotspot at any time, creating a real-time fidelity map impossible for centralized entities to replicate or falsify.

Evidence: The Helium Network's migration to Solana anchored its ~1 million hotspot coverage claims directly on-chain, making its coverage data a public good. A carrier's coverage data remains a proprietary, unaudited asset used for competitive advantage.