AT&T Launches Blockchain Solutions Targeting Supply Chain and Healthcare

The world's largest telecoms firm, AT&T, has launched a suite of blockchain services targeting diverse industries.

AccessTimeIconSep 27, 2018 at 3:10 p.m. UTC
Updated Aug 18, 2021 at 9:55 p.m. UTC

Presented By Icon

Election 2024 coverage presented by

Stand with crypto

The world's largest telecoms firm, AT&T, has become the latest major corporation to launch a suite of blockchain services targeting diverse industries.

AT&T said in a news release Wednesday that the solutions – which are largely focused on supply chain processes – can help businesses automate and digitize processes using blockchain tech.

  • Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
    13:18
    Bitcoin Mining in the U.S. Will Become 'a Lot More Decentralized': Core Scientific CEO
  • Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
    05:10
    Binance to Discontinue Its Nigerian Naira Services After Government Scrutiny
  • The first video of the year 2024
    04:07
    The first video of the year 2024
  • The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
    40:07
    The last regression video of the year 3.67.0
  • Citing use cases across industries including manufacturing, retail and healthcare, the conglomerate said its clients "will have better resources to track and manage information across multiple parties" using the "highly secure" permissioned blockchain platform.

    The blockchain-as-a-service platform has been designed to slot in with other notable blockchain platforms too, including IBM Blockchain and Microsoft Azure, and AT&T's internet of things tools can also be tied in to enable automation and monitoring capabilities.

    The release touts the strengths of the new platform in tracking the provenance and movement of goods for manufacturers, in allowing healthcare providers to share patient data while maintaining privacy and helping retailers manage stock and track deliveries

    Saying the nascent tech is "transforming the way many companies conduct business," Andy Daudelin, vice president, Alliances Business Development, AT&T Business, commented in the release:

    "Blockchain improves security and enables better management of transactions through complex processes. Utilizing our global network and IoT capabilities, AT&T enhances blockchain by providing edge-to-edge solutions that automate the tracking and that can even monitor the environmental conditions throughout the process."

    AT&T's launch of a blockchain platform doesn't come as much of a surprise. The company has been working in the space for a while, having been awarded a patent for a type of home subscriber server backed by blockchain tech in June 2017.

    The telco has also been examining blockchain's potential in in-car cryptocurrency payments, as revealed in a patent filing in April of last year.

    Further, in the last year a number of major firms have seen fit to launch their own blockchain-as-a-service platforms, likely staking their place in what is seen as the next big industry.

    Software Giant SAP launched its platform earlier this year, as did OracleJD.com and Huawei. IBM launched its blockchain platform in 2017, while Microsoft was ahead of the pack, starting adding modules as early as 2015, and launching to the public in 2016

    AT&T image via Shutterstock

    Disclosure

    Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information have been updated.

    CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk has adopted a set of principles aimed at ensuring the integrity, editorial independence and freedom from bias of its publications. CoinDesk is part of the Bullish group, which owns and invests in digital asset businesses and digital assets. CoinDesk employees, including journalists, may receive Bullish group equity-based compensation. Bullish was incubated by technology investor Block.one.


    Learn more about Consensus 2024, CoinDesk's longest-running and most influential event that brings together all sides of crypto, blockchain and Web3. Head to consensus.coindesk.com to register and buy your pass now.