Theta Network has announced that Germany-based telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom has joined its blockchain network as an enterprise validator. This development puts the telco on par with other corporate verifiers such as Google and Samsung.
Theta Network said in an announcement that the telco is its first on the blockchain, and this feat is a major advancement for Deutsche Telekom. Deutsche Telekom, along with other corporate validators, will be responsible for the core blockchain functions of validating transactions and securing the Layer 1 network. The company’s specific validator address is also published on the Theta blockchain.
Deutsche Telekom becomes validator of Theta Network
With this new development, Deutsche Telekom is expected to secure a role on the Theta network by staking the protocol’s native THETA token. In return, telcos earn staking rewards, paid in TFUEL. TFUEL is an operational token used for gas bills and payments on Theta Network’s Theta EdgeCloud platform.
Theta EdgeCloud is a distributed hybrid cloud edge computing platform that provides distributed GPU capacity by matching demand with supply from community edge nodes and cloud partners. In addition to offering strong price and performance characteristics, it offloads computation to edge nodes, reducing the latency and cost of traditional centralized cloud providers. It provides support for a variety of applications including generative AI, 3D modeling, and real-time data processing.
The platform’s hybrid architecture gives developers, researchers, and businesses access to scalable, affordable, and high-performance computing infrastructure. Additionally, Theta EdgeCloud is leading the way in decentralized AI and media innovation. Its global partners include the NBA team Houston Rockets, Stanford University, Seoul National University, and the AI Lab at NTU Singapore. The addition of Deutsche Telekom allows the platform to expand the company’s footprint in the AI market.
Theta Network welcomes the growing importance of AI
Deutsche Telekom said the move was a natural extension of its existing infrastructure business into distributed computing. The company also noted that Theta’s focus on performance and reliability in AI-heavy environments was key to its decision.
“We are impressed by recent Theta EdgeCloud use cases focused on reliability, performance and security, especially in academia where large-scale AI models are trained and served at the edge. Theta’s decentralized architecture aligns with our focus on reliable and secure infrastructure. As a digital leader, we are happy to support this innovative technology and contribute to its growth, unlocking new possibilities and opportunities in the process.” Telekom MMS Web3 said Dirk Roeder, Head of Infrastructure and Solutions.
For its part, Theta Network said it was pleased to welcome Deutsche Telekom to its network as the first digital carrier. Mitch Liu, CEO and co-founder of Theta Labs, highlighted the work the company has put into the blockchain industry, calling the company a “pioneer in blockchain adoption and infrastructure.” “Their decision to operate Theta validator nodes underscores Theta’s growing importance as a leader in decentralized cloud services for AI, media and entertainment,” he added.
This is not Deutsche Telekom’s first rodeo in the blockchain industry. The telecommunications company has built a sizeable Web3 portfolio through its subsidiary Deutsche Telekom MMS. The telecom giant previously provided enterprise-grade infrastructure and validation services for major protocols such as Ethereum, Chainlink, and Polkadot. Last year, the company launched a pilot project with Bankhaus Metzler to use surplus energy to run a Bitcoin mining effort.
The pair planned to tap into renewable energy sources that would have remained unused due to grid limitations. The project, carried out by Rival GmbH Engineering in Backnang, utilized the company’s systems for mining operations. The company also leveraged Telekom MMS’ Web3 technology expertise to run the operation.
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