T-Mobile T Challenge

Overview

The T Challenge is a global initiative by T-Mobile US and Deutsche Telekom to recognize and award innovators who are shaping the future of telecommunications. This year's focus is on building the AI-native telco, emphasizing autonomous, customer-focused, and intent-based networks. The competition serves as a platform for researchers, startups, and tech pioneers to present their visions for intelligent networks and enhanced customer experiences, all powered by AI. The challenge aims to foster the development of AI-driven telco solutions that transform networks into intelligent, self-managing systems. These systems are designed to deliver exceptional, personalized customer experiences by anticipating user intent and automating network operations. Participants are encouraged to share bold visions and groundbreaking innovations that will drive the evolution of AI-powered telco technology. The goal is to create the next generation of autonomous, customer-focused networks that not only understand user needs but also provide seamless and intelligent connectivity. This initiative offers participants global recognition, the opportunity to amplify their positive impact, and potential for long-term business collaborations with Deutsche Telekom and T-Mobile US, in addition to significant prize money.

What to build

Participants are challenged to develop AI-driven solutions for an AI-native telco, focusing on building autonomous, customer-focused, and intent-based telecommunications networks. Solutions should address one or more of the following focus areas: 1. Autonomous Networks: Develop AI-driven solutions that enable real-time adaptation, self-healing, intent-based orchestration, and edge intelligence in telecom networks to operate without human intervention. 2. Energy Efficiency & Zero-bit Zero-watt: Create AI-powered innovations that minimize energy consumption across the entire network lifecycle, striving for a "Zero Bit Zero Watt" network vision, optimizing power dynamically, enabling deep-sleep modes, or improving facility management. 3. Supply Resilience: Propose AI-first solutions that enhance transparency, provide early risk detection, and enable adaptive responses within supply chains, including uncovering hidden risks, forecasting disruptions, and suggesting alternative sourcing. 4. Security: Build AI solutions that strengthen cybersecurity defenses across networks, systems, and AI applications, focusing on detecting zero-day exploits, insider threats, enabling self-healing environments, and developing intelligent, adaptive, and proactive security measures.

Prizes

Key dates

• Submission PhaseSeptember 29, 2025 – December 5, 2025
• Selection PhaseDecember 8, 2025 – January 30, 2026
• Development PhaseFebruary 2, 2026 – April 27, 2026

Eligibility

The T Challenge is open to ambitious researchers, developers, and startups worldwide who are focused on revolutionary approaches to building the AI-native telco.

How to enter

1. Submit your idea during the submission phase (September 29, 2025 – December 5, 2025), describing what you aim to achieve in the development phase.
2. If selected by the qualification team (December 8, 2025 – January 30, 2026), proceed to the development phase.
3. Develop and refine your AI-driven solution (February 2, 2026 – April 27, 2026).

Sponsors & partners

Resources

• FAQ - Autonomous Networks
• FAQ - Energy Efficiency & Zero-bit Zero-watt
• FAQ - Supply Resilience
• FAQ - Security
• General FAQ