T-Mobile today launched a venture fund that will invest in early stage and emerging growth companies developing 5G technologies.
T-Mobile Ventures will focus on companies developing edge computing, security, industrial IT and “future of work” technologies. The carrier will work corporate venture capital firm Touchdown Ventures to help manage the fund.
Edge computing firms, the carrier said, are those companies that help businesses, consumers and developers achieve faster application response times in networking and distributed cloud environments. Security is becoming more important to protect telecom infrastructure, devices and applications from security and privacy threats.
The importance of future of work technologies has been highlighted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as the distributed workforce has relied more on advanced communication and collaboration. Industrial IoT involves sensors on machines and in plants to provide “early warning” data on system failures so that companies can make repairs, replace parts, etc., before a system fails.
“Compelling 5G use cases span the range of spectrum bands from low, mid to high, and only T-Mobile has these assets giving it a 5G network that can support all use cases across every industry,” said Neville Ray, T-Mobile president of technology, in a prepared statement. “Now is the time for the developers, entrepreneurs and creators to make the magic happen with products and services that will unleash the potential of our 5G network.”
“T-Mobile Ventures is part of our mission to give customers the best 5G network in the country – one that will serve all Americans, stimulate competition and create tremendous economic value,” said Jason Young, senior vice president of partnerships and T-Mobile Ventures, in a prepared statement about the T-Mobile venture fund. “With our 5G network at the foundation, we see massive opportunity across both business and consumer segments, and we’re excited to help fuel the wave of 5G applications coming to market in the years ahead.”
T-Mobile is currently showcasing some of the power of 5G communications with “batter cams” being used in the World Series. Game 2 is tonight.
