BT, Telecom Infra Project, and Facebook open start-up competition

BT, the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), and Facebook say they are looking for start-ups in telecom infrastructure to join the UK’s TIP Ecosystem Acceleration Centre (TEAC), based at the BT Innovation Labs in Martlesham, Suffolk and in London’s Tech City. The second annual competition will focus on start-ups in the intent-based networking and mobile areas.

Interested companies must apply by September, 24, 2018 via the TEAC UK website: https://www.btplc.com/Innovation/TEAC/index.htm. Companies selected to join TEAC UK will have collaborate with scientists and engineers at the BT Labs and gain access to BT’s network facilities, hardware, and testing resources. They also will gain access to potential investors, build their network across the TEAC global community, and raise their company’s visibility.

Entries will be judged by a panel of senior network and technology leaders from BT, Facebook, and TIP. Shortlisted companies will be invited to make their final pitch at BT Tower on October 12, when this year’s winners will be chosen.

“TIP was created to help tackle some of the big challenges in telecoms, boosting global connectivity by supporting big ideas,” said Howard Watson, CTIO of BT and a member of the TIP Board. “We’re particularly interested in start-ups with innovative ideas on how to deploy mobile networks cost-effectively in rural areas, as we look ahead to the roll-out of 5G services. Intent-Based Networking is another area with huge potential, helping networks to manage themselves and ‘self-heal’ to underpin more reliable services – we’d also welcome entries in this, and related fields.”

Last year’s winners include Unmanned Life, Zeetta Networks, and KETS Quantum Security.

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