In the past few days, strange antennas have been installed again and again in the hills around the city of Salt Lake City in the US state of Utah. The authorities don’t know what it’s all about. This is reported by the local news channel KSLTV and explains that the first appeared a year ago. In the past few months, however, their number has increased significantly, explains Tyler Fonarow, who is responsible for the hiking trails around the city, according to the report. He speculates that the antennas are somehow related to cryptocurrency and calls for an end to the installations. The necessary dismantling sometimes takes hours and takes place in an area that is not easily accessible.
Nature should remain untouched
Removal of a dismantled antenna
The equipment consists of a battery box, a solar panel and the antenna itself. There are no features to identify those responsible and sometimes a great deal of effort is required to remove them. Five people were once needed because the antenna was firmly anchored in the stone and special tools were needed to dismantle it. According to the Department responsible for Parks and Recreation, nothing is left standing in the landscape and the devices have to be removed. “Honestly, we haven’t even screwed the technology up yet,” explains Fonarow: “We just didn’t want them on our hill anymore.” Authorities are asking the public for information. The highest antenna was discovered on a mountain more than 2100 m high.
It is not known in Salt Lake City what those responsible are doing with the antennas, but it is assumed that there is a connection with the so-called Helium Network. This is a decentralized wireless network for the Internet of Things. Those who take part and set up their own antennas will be compensated in their own cryptocurrency. The further the spanned network reaches, the more crypto money there is, writes Vice. About a year ago, the New York Times publicized the project with a major article, claiming the concept showed that “Crypto money might have a use after all“So far, however, this is only one of several attempts at an explanation.
Because there is no damage to nature associated with the erection and dismantling of the antennas, it is still unclear whether the processes will have legal consequences, Vice writes: “As long as it is not dangerous, we really don’t care,” says Fonarov. You just want people to stop doing it so you can go back to taking care of nature. If they are devices for research purposes, they might even be allowed. After that it doesn’t look like it. Although antennas were also found on the grounds of the University of Utah, according to their own statements, they have no information that it is a university project.
(mho)
