Celina Turns Wi-Fi Into Cell Coverage with Helium Partnership

Celina, a Texas town north of Dallas, has found an innovative solution to its growing need for cell coverage. The city added nearly 13,000 residents in just one year and grew at a rate of 24.6%, making it the fastest-growing US city with over 20,000 residents.

HNT jumped almost 100% on Saturday after the town partnered with Helium (HNT) to turn its existing Wi-Fi networks into carrier coverage. The system uses a layer added by Helium that lets phones treat those hotspots as cell coverage, requiring no new towers or infrastructure.

Amy Alexander, director of information technology for the City of Celina, said 'Helium let us turn Wi-Fi we already own into coverage our residents' phones use automatically, without spending a dollar on new towers.' The system works by using credentials stored on the SIM card to connect devices to the network.

The deal is not new to Helium, as AT&T signed on to the same system in April 2025. This allows for automatic connections between devices and the Helium network. With over 100 GB of data processed daily at just one library, senior center, and a few shops, traders seem to believe this partnership has significant potential.