Technology innovation has always been the cornerstone of societal and economic development. If we look back 100 years, technology-led developments in the areas of mass production, transportation, connectivity and electrification each brought profound changes for nations and their societies.
But we mustn’t look back 100 years.
We must look forward.
Technology is moving faster than ever – robotics and drones, autonomous transport, quantum computing, the increasing role of virtual and mixed reality, digital twins, the growth of AI applications. Any one of these technologies could revolutionise how we live, play or work, but together they will accelerate the growth of the digital economy, and with it our economic productivity and efficiency.
This can only happen if the underlying digital infrastructure –networks – support these technology advancements. That’s why BT, as the UK’s leading network provider, our research is laser focussed on the network - to enable our customers to get the most value from these technologies and to support the nation on its digital journey.
It’s the innovation we create today that will enable the services for tomorrow. That’s good for customers, great for the UK and essential for BT.
Our researchers are exploring how to:
Converged
Build a converged network for a seamless customer experience
Develop the next generation of communication capabilities to deliver the ultimate seamless customer experience – a network that will deliver brilliant connectivity for gaming, work and entertainment on any device, anywhere.
Sustainable
Build an optimised network that’s sustainable
Optimise our networks using technologies such as AI, so that they do more, for more customers, every day, in a sustainable way.
Platform
Build a network that’s a platform
So that our networks do more beyond providing connectivity – so that they become programable, open platforms that enable the art of the possible in terms of products and services, to meet our customers’ needs.
Future
Build a network for future technologies
Set up the networks for advancements down the line in terms of new services and capabilities such as AI.
Secure
Build a network that’s secure against emerging threats
Use technologies such as AI and ML so that our networks can detect future threats and defend our networks, to protect our customers.
Quantum ready
Build a network for quantum technologies
Develop quantum secure communications to protect our customers from future quantum threats.
Evolve our networks to support the future quantum internet: a network that connects quantum computers and devices.
Harness the opportunities that quantum technologies such as sensing, timing and quantum computers will bring to us and to our customers.
Our credentials
Understanding scientific discovery and translating it, through engineering, into something valuable for customers and society, is in the DNA of BT. After all, the company began with the filing of a patent on 12 June 1837 for the electric telegraph in a collaboration between academia and business. Fast forward to today and we’ve developed many telecoms world-firsts underpinned by customer centric innovation.
We’ve continued our leadership in patents and applications with a portfolio of 5,400 worldwide.
We’re ranked No.1 in the UK telecoms, media & technology sector for our R&D spend in the past 3 years.
We are a leading voice to international standards bodies that develop specifications for fixed and mobile networks.
Our people and partnerships
True customer centric innovation comes from bringing brilliant people together to collaborate.
Our people remain our most important asset to enable us to stay at the forefront of technological innovation. Our diverse research team is made-up of world-class scientists, research engineers and specialists. And our internal programmes such as the Tech Fellowship fosters a community of knowledge sharing, recognises our brilliant people and inspires technical talent.
Through our partnership programme we collaborate with over thirty top universities as well as start-ups, scale-ups, investors, governmental and publicly funded bodies such as UKRI, to accelerate the commercialisation of emerging technologies. We are part of a rich UK R&D ecosystem.
We work with around 150 partner organisations as part of our Collaborative Research Programme and have global research centres in the UK, Ireland, UAE and India.
Tech Fellowship
Our Tech Fellowship career development programme brings together diversity of thought, coupled with technical knowledge and skills from across BT Group. Programmes like this are key in helping us to remain at the forefront of technological innovation for both our customers and society as a whole.