Noble Mobile, the MVNO launched by former presidential candidate Andrew Yang, has acquired Helium Mobile. Terms were not disclosed.

The deal pairs two small carriers that have the same goal: make phone service far more affordable than the big incumbents.

Why this matters

Both companies are built around returning value to customers rather than extracting it. Noble launched last year with a simple incentive — cash-back rewards when customers use their phones less — arguing people pay too much for unused data. Its plans start at $50 for a single line.

Helium Mobile runs on the Helium Network, a distributed system of Wi‑Fi hotspots people install in homes or businesses. Operators earn rewards for providing coverage used by carriers, and the network today supports millions of subscribers through carriers including Helium Mobile — now Noble Mobile as well.

What the companies say

In a joint release, the two called the acquisition a way to “flip the script on an industry that has spent decades overcharging by putting that money back into the pockets of Americans.”

Andrew Yang added, “Most Americans don’t think about their phone bill as an economic issue, but it is. It’s money leaving their pocket every single month for a service that should cost a fraction of what the big carriers charge. Noble Mobile and Helium Mobile were both built to change that, and through this acquisition, we’re committed to reaching even more people that this industry has ignored for too long.”

Scale, structure, and next steps

The Helium Network is supported by about 137,000 hotspots — “mini cell towers” run by individuals — and already serves millions of subscribers daily for Helium Mobile and other carriers.

Helium’s leadership says the acquisition was chosen to protect subscribers’ long‑term interests. Mong told Fierce the fit came down to shared values and aligned leadership, and emphasized that the Helium Network itself isn’t being sold: “Helium Mobile, the consumer carrier service, is being acquired, not Nova Labs/Helium, which will continue to operate and expand the people‑powered Helium Network.”

What will change is traffic and reach: Noble subscribers will start using the Helium Network, and the Helium team says it will pivot to scaling an “intelligent connectivity platform” carriers and connected services can build on — including Noble. More details about that work are expected in the coming days.