- Deutsche Telekom has joined the NEAR blockchain’s Enterprise Node Operators program, enhancing decentralization and security for the platform
- As the first telecom to operate a validator for NEAR, Deutsche Telekom MMS plays a pivotal role in validating and approving transactions
- This collaboration strengthens NEAR’s focus on scalable, user-controlled technology, including its recent shift toward decentralized AI applications
Deutsche Telekom MMS, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, has joined the NEAR blockchain’s ENO program to bolster the network’s decentralization and enhance its security. This move marks the first time a major telecommunications company has taken on the role of validator within the NEAR ecosystem, underscoring the growing intersection of telecommunications and blockchain. Through this role, Deutsche Telekom MMS will verify and approve transactions on NEAR’s protocol, further supporting its vision of a secure, scalable, and user-controlled blockchain network.
Deutsche Telekom Enters NEAR’s Blockchain Ecosystem
Deutsche Telekom MMS’s entry into the ENO program signifies a new era for the NEAR protocol, a high-performance blockchain with a unique sharding architecture. Sharding, a technique that divides the blockchain into smaller segments called “shards,” allows for greater scalability by distributing transaction processing across multiple validators rather than concentrating it on a single chain. This distributed approach supports the NEAR protocol’s goal of enabling more transactions without overloading the network.
NEAR has recently emphasized “user-owned AI,” promoting an open, decentralized AI platform that places data control directly in the hands of users. By integrating artificial intelligence capabilities with blockchain technology, NEAR seeks to give developers a foundation for building scalable AI-driven applications. The inclusion of Deutsche Telekom MMS, known for its expertise in robust and reliable infrastructure, is expected to add a layer of resilience to NEAR’s evolving AI ecosystem.
Oliver Nyderle, Head of Digital Trust & Web3 Infrastructure at Deutsche Telekom MMS, highlighted this shared vision, stating, “Together we are breaking new ground. We share the same high standards when it comes to data sovereignty and control for the benefit of users.”
Milestone for NEAR’s Enterprise Node Program
Meta Pool, which organizes the ENO program, has lauded the collaboration as a milestone. “With Telekom’s infrastructure expertise, we are taking a big step towards the decentralization and professionalism of the NEAR ecosystem,” said Claudio Cossio, co-founder of Meta Pool. Through this partnership, Deutsche Telekom MMS aims to broaden its blockchain footprint, adding NEAR to its portfolio of decentralized networks and contributing to the platform’s stability.
Earlier this month, Deutsche Telekom announced that it would trial Bitcoin mining with surplus electricity generated through solar panels at a plant in Germany, showing commitment to the Bitcoin and blockchain space.
