ABOUT US
T-Labs is the Research & Development department of Deutsche Telekom, dedicated to exploring disruptive trends and establishing technology leadership to create valuable business opportunities for Deutsche Telekom and its customers. Co-creation is at the core of our mission: we collaborate with academic institutions on research and run incubation programs with startups, developers, and strategic partners worldwide. We currently focus on future network technologies, including Quantum Networks, Network Security, Digital Twin, and ongoing Technology Exploration.
Quantum Networks
Telecommunications networks belong to the most complex structures in modern industrial societies. The techno-economic evolution of these networks along the principles of decentralization, disaggregation and automation defies classical deterministic system analysis. It is driven by technological progress, notably the emergent world of quantum computing. Consequently, mastership of data-driven algorithmic approaches for optimized operation and preemptive cybersecurity in telecommunication systems become more and more important and must be achieved by large-scale operators such as Deutsche Telekom. This competence area is denoted as Artificial Intelligence. Its application to well-defined techno-economic contexts such as Open RAN, cybersecurity, quantum technology and radio network technology of the next generation (“6G”) is in the focus of T-Labs.
Technology Exploration
As digital technologies rapidly advance, Deutsche Telekom stands at the forefront of an industry-wide transformation. Central to our strategic vision is the integration of artificial intelligence technologies, which is becoming increasingly vital for telecom providers. It presents a crucial impetus for us to adapt our business models and undertake a comprehensive reevaluation of our network architecture. Embracing these challenges head-on, we are pioneering a future where our infrastructure meets the escalating demands of our customers with agility and resilience. Our Technology Exploration tribe research on AI-driven solutions that promise enhanced efficiency, predictive maintenance, and personalized customer experiences.
Network Security
The research area Network Security focusses on creating a powerful scientific toolkit for studying the most pressing issues of future telecommunication networks: Security, Efficiency, Stability and Complexity Management. To address those issues, we develop Digital Network Twin tools to investigate various questions, ranging from network resource optimization to aggregate energy consumption optimization.
Digital Network Twins furthermore support overarching and preemptive Network Security approaches. To be specific, we aim at leveraging the recent revolutionary progress in Generative AI for Network Security functionality.
TEAM
Experts and scientists from a wide variety of disciplines, as well as young entrepreneurs, from more than 25 nations all work together at T-Labs.
CO-RESEARCH ECOSYSTEM
Based on our mission, T-Labs is researching on future oriented topics in particular using the opportunities generated by the cooperation with universities, research institutes, startups and industry partners.
Since 2004, the Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) and Deutsche Telekom came together to establish an university-affiliated institute, Telekom Innovation Laboratories (T-Labs), as part of a public private partnership. The object of this partnership has been to carry out joint research in information and communications technology, and digital innovation.
Furthermore, T-Labs is engaged in a number of additional research cooperation with dedicated endowed chairs in Germany, in Europe and beyond. Our network of major university partnerships include: Technische Universität Berlin, Technische Universität Dresden, CODE University of Applied Sciences (Berlin), Eötvös Loránd Universität (Budapest), Technische Universität Wien and Ben-Gurion-Universität des Negev (Israel).
T-Labs is bringing experts from Deutsche Telekom, together with scientists from various national and international universities and research facilities, on a project basis, to develop innovative solutions for the near and long-term future.
In Germany, these research cooperation span a nation-wide network across most of the “Excellence Universities” to form a technology cluster dedicated to specific topics. A concrete example is the 5G Co:Creation Lab set with industry Partners as part of the NRW Tech Cluster, with Technology & Arts TH Köln & University of Köln.
With the aforementioned project partnerships, endowed chairs, and joint ventures on a national and European level, Deutsche Telekom is making an active contribution to the realization of commercial projects, to the transfer of technology, and to innovation marketing.
Upcoming Events
Girls Day 2026: Save-the-date April 23, 2026
Save the date for Girls Day 2026 Der Girls'Day ist ein bundesweiter Orientierungstag zur Berufs- und Studienorientierung von Mädchen. Er wird vom Bundesministerium für Familie, Senioren, Frauen und Jugend und vom Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung gefördert. Am Girls'Day lernen Mädchen Berufe oder Studienfächer kennen, in denen der Frauenanteil unter 40 Prozent liegt, z. B. in den Bereichen IT, Handwerk, Naturwissenschaften und Technik. Oder sie begegnen weiblichen Vorbildern in Führungspositionen aus Wirtschaft und Politik. Der nächste Girls'Day findet am 23. April 2026 statt. Die T-Labs bieten auch nächstes Jahr wieder ein spannendes und abwechslungsreiches Programm. [...]
T Challenge 2026: Pitch & Award Show on April 28 – 29, 2026 at Telekom HQ in Bonn
T Challenge 2026: More than secure networks – a new era of communication Apply now! The T Challenge is our stage to recognize pioneering solutions and award outstanding innovators with a broad network full of opportunities. This year, our focus is on building the AI-native telco – creating autonomous, customer-focused, and intent-based telecommunications networks. We invite researchers, startups, and tech pioneers to share their visions for intelligent networks and enhanced customer experiences, elevated by the power of AI. Ideas have the power to change the world forever. Thoughts that are born inside genius [...]
Past events
6GNeXT Project Closing Event
6G NeXt Project Closing Event - Successful conclusion after 3 years of 6G research The 6G NeXt research project draws a positive conclusion after three years of pioneering research and development work. The project, funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space Travel, demonstrated sophisticated applications in an experimental 6G test environment at a closing event at Schönhagen airfield. Among other things, the project partners showcased an intelligent anti-collision system for drones in mixed air traffic. The 6G NeXt research initiative was launched to explore next-generation architectural concepts for 6G networks. The [...]
Berlin Open Ran Working Week
Berlin Open Ran Working Week (BOWW) 09.09.- 10.09.25 The combined power of the Berlin Open RAN Working Week (BOWW) and the i14y Lab Summit returned this year. From September 9th to 11th, 2025, attendees came together for three full days of Open RAN discussions, talks, panels, and networking in one place at the Science Tech Space at Lanolinfabrik. The BOWW (Berlin Open RAN Working Week) continued to be dedicated to studying the fundamental questions of disaggregated networks in the well-proven interplay of academia and practitioners. This year’s sessions took their cue from the latest [...]
CONTACT
Deutsche Telekom AG, T-Labs
Winterfeldtstraße 21
10781 Berlin, Germany
t-labs.info@telekom.de
SOCIAL MEDIA
Live content from the core of T-Labs.