💡Network Concepts

Key concepts of the Pollen network include:

PollenCoin (“$PCN”): A token utilized within the Pollen network for: 1) payments within the Pollen network (e.g., data / subscriptions); 2) to reward Flower owners for providing network coverage; 3) to reward Validators for validating Flower coverage; and 4) to reward End Users for utilizing the network.

The value of $PCN has been and continues to be pegged to the US Dollar (“USD”) at a value of 1 $PCN : USD $0.10 for purposes of making purchases within the Pollen network (i.e., has no cash value). (For the avoidance of doubt, $PCN is not a “stablecoin”.)

Pollen customers will be able to pay for a portion (e.g., up to 25%) of data, subscription, hardware, etc. purchases in $PCN. $PCN may also be integrated with partner programs.

The number of $PCN minted is permanently fixed at 1,000,000,000 (one billion).

Pollen Hex (“Hex”): Pollen network coverage is measured on a hexagonal grid defined by the H3 hierarchical spatial index. Pollen utilizes Hex Level 9 as its primary Hex, which encompasses approximately 0.1 square kilometers or 0.04 square miles. Hexes are utilized for various purposes, including for calculating $PCN rewards to network participants (e.g., Flower coverage rewards are tied to the number of unique weekly combinations of Bee-Hex connections) and recording Pollen Drops. Larger Hexes (e.g., Level 6 Hexes, which encompass 36.1 square kilometers or 13.9 square miles) may be utilized by Pollen for purposes of setting or calculating rewards, such as Geographic Boosts.

Internet Egress Privacy Service (“IEPS”): SIMs encrypt all user data traffic between User Equipment (Birds), the radio network (Flowers), and the Mobile Core. Where the Mobile Core delivers traffic to the internet (called the internet egress point), user traffic can be monitored and intercepted by parties conducting network surveillance and traffic analysis, including Internet Service Providers and governments.

Pollen will utilize services such as WireGuard to help ensure all network traffic is aggregated and encrypted in order to help prevent user data from being surveilled and / or intercepted.

Citizens Broadband Radio Service (“CBRS”): A 150 MHz band of spectrum (3.55-3.70 GHz; Band 48) that the FCC made available for public fixed wireless and mobility use without a spectrum license. Prior to CBRS, the band was primarily used by the US Navy.

Spectrum Access Service (“SAS”): In order to utilize CBRS, Flowers must be registered with one of the FCC-approved SAS systems that help prevent interference between users, as well as allow the US Navy to continue to utilize the band without interference as needed. SAS has the ability to dictate which channels Flowers can utilize, as well as set maximum output power limits. Pollen utilizes Federated Wireless’s SAS.