BT and the Telecom Infra Project launch third wave of start-up accelerator programme

BT, the Telecom Infra Project (TIP), and Facebook have launched their third annual competition for start-ups in telecom infrastructure to join the UK’s TIP Ecosystem Acceleration Centre (TEAC), based at the BT Labs in Martlesham, Suffolk and in London’s Tech City.

This year’s competition is seeking innovative start-ups with services which can deliver business or social benefits by utilising Edge Computing or 5G Private Network Infrastructure. Winners will work with globally recognised scientists and engineers at the BT Labs at Adastral Park, one of the world’s leading centres for telecommunications research, with access to BT’s network facilities, hardware and testing capabilities. In addition, they will gain access to potential investors, build their network across the TEAC global community, and raise their company’s visibility.

Interested companies should apply by 18th October 2019 via the TEAC UK website.

Entries will be judged by a panel of senior network and technology leaders from BT and TIP. The shortlisted companies will be announced at the TIP Summit in Amsterdam on November 12th-13th, and will then be invited to a final pitch event at BT Tower on Thursday 5th December, where the winners will be chosen.

Howard Watson, CTIO of BT, and a member of the TIP Board notes: “TIP is playing a crucial role in helping to tackle some of the big challenges in global connectivity, supporting innovation across the telecoms sector and opening up opportunities for companies with exciting ideas, regardless of scale. This year, we’re particularly interested in entries from companies who are using Edge Computing or 5G Private Network Infrastructure in innovative ways to create new business opportunities or benefit society.”

The TEAC initiative is part of the Telecom Infra Project, which was founded in 2016. TIP is a global community that includes more than 500 member companies, including operators, infrastructure providers, system integrators, and other technology companies working together to transform the traditional approach to building and deploying telecom network infrastructure.

This year’s competition represents the third wave of entries into TEAC UK. Last year, two companies; Tethir and Accelleran, were welcomed into the TIP community.