Interview with Co-Lead for Web3 Program, Deutsche Telekom Markus Schorn Senior Manager of Corporate Strategy Manager Corporate Strategy Jens Herrmann.
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Deutsche Telekom is a major player in the blockchain industry, and this might surprise many people. When did you start and why?
Markus: Our team in Berlin has been working on Web3 definition since 2018. We were perhaps inspired by Berlin’s vibrant Ethereum Community to experiment with self-administered scooters on the Blockchain back in 2018. In 2018, we experimented with putting self-administered e-scooters on the blockchain. “crypto winters.” We continued to do so. work Deutsche Telekom MMS is a leader in blockchain technology and runs validators today for the major blockchain networks.
Jens: We are a cloud service provider in Europe. own Infrastructure is key to decentralizing blockchain networks. As our first major project, we began by running oracles on Chainlink. We moved to staking from there, especially as early adopters for the Flow Blockchain, where we ran the first Flow Validators for projects like Dapper Labs or Top Shots. Early involvement generated significant momentum. We expanded our blockchain activities after staking by moving to indexing. Our journey began with oracles, then staking, and now indexing. Each step has contributed to our increasing expertise and presence within the blockchain space. ClearX, a decentralized clearing service, is part of Helium’s ecosystem. Celo, our first strategic investment into a token made us one of the few companies at that time to manage cryptoassets.
What are the specific technologies that Deutsche Telekom is focusing on?
Jens: Starting with Ethereum, Polygon (the major blockchain), Celo (the minor), Flow, Q (the energy web), The Graph, MutiversX and Aleph Zero. We support Chainlink’s oracle network, which allows DeFi apps access to external data. We focus on public blockchains that are EVM compatible, because we want to help build a new Internet on open infrastructure.
Markus: We are currently focusing on platforms compatible with Ethereum. Ethereum is the current standard and businesses are still experimenting with its possibilities.
We’re excited to see what we are building with Celo. This is a mobile first blockchain, and a future protocol layer two on Ethereum which uses mobile phone number as an identifier on the blockchain of digital assets. This opens the door to tokenized assets in real-world, where users will be able to send digital assets directly onto their mobile phones. We want to be part of this.
You seem committed to providing basic Blockchain infrastructure services. Why?
Markus: Over the past few years, we have learned that our service is unique. EVMs require decentralization for optimal functioning. It would not be ideal for all of Ethereum to run on AWS. It is important to have at least a second, or even a third, credible cloud infrastructure option.
As a telecommunications provider, we have unique advantages when it comes to maintaining high uptimes. This is also true for running validators. It has been a great business move for us. This establishes us as a credible provider in the Web3 community and the blockchain community, showing our commitment to open, decentralized network. This credibility is also beneficial for future services.
Jens: As a telecommunications firm, it is part of our DNA to run decentralized networks. The unequal rewards that the big tech firms reap are a second motivation. Web3 is a way to level the field.
Web2 and Web3 seem to me like a natural evolution in the Internet’s development. Since years we have been providing infrastructure service, beginning with phone lines and moving on to the Internet. It is important for us to not only be a part of future developments, but to also guide them. It is important to understand how digital wallets and blockchain ecosystems like them work. We are actively exploring our role in this changing landscape.
What blockchain-based enterprise use cases excite you?
Jens: At the moment, we are focusing on helping other companies transition to Web3. Celo uses the mobile number as the wallet’s address. Even storing an encrypted phone number on a chain didn’t satisfy our privacy standards in the past. So we need to innovate. “one-click wallets.”
MetaMask wallets are not the future of mass market wallets. They may be included in mainstream apps created by brands and companies. We want brands to be able to integrate wallets more easily into their native apps. A prototype has been built that allows brands to do this in just one click.
Markus: We’ve found that digital ownership plays a crucial role in these new systems. When implementing new engagement programs, corporations face a challenge in dealing with legacy systems. This can be costly and require a lot of effort. If these legacy systems produce something as simple as a QR Code, you can connect that code to the blockchain. You can introduce advanced features, such as gamification, outside of the legacy system and still maintain the ownership status in the blockchain. This layering of legacy systems over existing ones will change the game significantly, especially in Web3 use cases.
Do you feel that there is an increasing level of understanding when you talk to enterprise clients? Especially those outside the Web3 area. Or do you need to educate them still?
Jens: This area still needs education and explanation. Internally, we’ve been working on it for a long time. We have held sessions for the entire group as well as senior executives. Our B2B clients also need to be educated; the degree of understanding depends on who you are talking to.
Markus: Interestingly, the current ‘crypto winter’ has somewhat benefited us. We started our venture in 2012, when the landscape was full of expensive JPGs. Many people wondered about the importance of concepts like NFTs, blockchains, and metaverses when they weren’t aligned with the interests major players. This period has clarified and refined people’s understanding of Web3.
What are some of the unique, innovative, decentralized models that you have seen businesses explore or adopt? How do they differ from conventional models?
Jens: They are a couple. Decentralized business models, such as clearing and settlement, are promising. They allow parties to settle their disputes directly without the need for a third party. Decentralized physical networks are also of interest. Instead of building infrastructure only on our own ownTelcos or infrastructure suppliers can engage with users to encourage them to install network infrastructure. Is this a model which will work in the future? Nobody knows for certain right now. But we believe it’s crucial to try and understand the mechanics. work.
Markus: There are also the colorful programs like loyalty programs. Interesting is the composability. There are so many options. We’re working on an incentive to encourage employees to complete more online training. As an example, we gave them reward tokens to make them feel motivated. This is a pretty simple idea. What could these tokens be made of? You could plant trees using a carbon offset protocol on-chain or receive digital rewards. So, you could issue a learning coin that can be exchanged for a carbon offset coin. Because it’s all on the one chain, it is so easy to integrate. This is a native part of the Blockchain, so you don’t have to build a huge backend. With the digital ownership built-in, it is easy to composability. This is one of the most powerful features of blockchain.
Markus Schorn, bestselling author and expert on new technologies and business models, is also a special advisor. He is a specialist in digital transformation, innovation and business models across various industries.
Jens Herrmann has over 18 years experience and is passionate about technology, business and entrepreneurship. work In blockchain, Web3, Metaverse. He focuses on driving and advising major advancements in telecom Blockchain projects, data trends and challenges in decentralization.
Continue reading:
https://www.telekom.com/en/company/topic-specials/special-blockchain
https://geschaeftskunden.telekom.de/digitale-loesungen/infrastructure-as-a-service/staking-en
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Source: entethalliance.org