About
The Telekom Challenge is organized by T-Labs and is a worldwide invitation for Experts and Researchers (individual persons & teams) from academia, R&D institutes and industry to provide innovative solutions for network related challenge fields!
Scroll down and find out more about this years Telekom Challenge!

Challenge Focus
The Telekom Challenge solicits technologies and research ideas in the realm of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This year the challenge topic is called “Data distribution in home networks” with the ambition to find out how data distribution in the home network will be done in the future (beyond Wi-Fi) & how to make it secure? The Telekom Challenge will run in two streams and applicants can choose between one of the following in which they wish to participate!
Research Stream
Life beyond the status quo – deliver a research paper by focusing on the following key question.
What will be next to Wi-Fi and beyond to ensure Data distribution in home networks?
- What could be a potential solution to maintain or improve coverage and avoid existing challenges and setbacks (e.g. the expense of increased indoor radiation and Interference with e.g. neighbors)?
- How will the growing number of IoT and Smart Home devices change the requirements towards the home network?
How can we secure Data distribution in home networks?
- With the rise in use of IoT in home environments starting from the network to devices and from physical layer to applications the amount of personal data is increasing. Home networks will become a more attractive target for malicious attacks.
- What could be potentially the best solution or architecture that would secure the customer at home?
Development Stream
Deliver measurable improvement in the form of a technical Proof of Concept by focusing on the following key question.
Awards
The winning proposals from Research and Development Stream will receive the following amount of prize money.
Research Stream
1. Prize
2. Prize
3. Prize
-
Participation Grant (during research paper development phase):
2.000 € for each of selected TOP 10
Development Stream
1. Prize
2. Prize
3. Prize
-
Participation Grant (during technical Proof of Concept development phase):
25.000 € for each of selected TOP 10
Timeline
Submission
15.01. – 15.03.2021
Experts and Researchers (individual persons & teams) from academia, R&D institutes and industry submit their solution.
TOP 10 Selection
16.03. – 02.04.2021
An expert jury will look for best proposals and select TOP 10 submissions for each participation stream for the next stage.
Development
05.04. – 02.08.2021
Selected TOP 10 submissions for both streams can now start to work on the proposed technical solution or research paper.
TOP 3 Selection
03.08. – 20.08.2021
An expert jury will look for best solutions and select TOP 3 for each participation stream.
Award Ceremony
September 2021
Following the final solution review in both streams, TOP 3 will be rewarded during an award ceremony in Berlin.*
- * Due to the current Covid-19 situation, the final event in Berlin could probably take place as a virtual or hybrid event.

Telekom Challenge One Pager
Hereby you can see the most important information about the Telekom Challenge at a glance.

Telekom Challenge – Call for Action
Alexander Lautz (Head of T-Labs) calls for action to apply with your idea for the Telekom Challenge. Start your challenge now!