India: C-DOT, IIT-Roorkee Unveil Next-Gen Telecom Hub

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT-Roorkee) to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) dedicated to next-generation communication technologies. This collaboration aims to accelerate indigenous research, innovation, and capacity building in various fields related to telecommunications.

Objectives of the Centre of Excellence

The newly formed CoE will focus on several key areas:

• Wireless communication
• Quantum technologies
• Cybersecurity
• Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven applications

The CoE will serve as a hub for government-backed deep-tech development, promoting close collaboration between academia and industry. By combining IIT-Roorkee’s technical expertise with C-DOT’s applied research strengths, the centre aims to support students, researchers, and start-ups working on strategic national priorities. This initiative is part of India’s broader push for telecom self-reliance.

Research and Development Focus Areas

The CoE will drive joint research and prototype development across several high-impact domains, including:

• 5G and 6G systems
• RF and sub-terahertz integrated circuits
• Advanced sensors
• Millimetre-wave beamforming antennas with integrated ICs
• Vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technologies
• Data-driven wireless systems
• Energy-efficient communication architectures

By focusing on these areas, the CoE aims to actively support startups, drive new intellectual property creation, and promote continuous knowledge exchange through workshops, training, and structured academia–industry collaboration. This effort will reinforce India’s global telecom leadership and technological self-reliance.

Key Figures in the Collaboration

The signing ceremony was attended by notable figures such as:

• K. K. Pant, Director of IIT-Roorkee
• Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT
• Faculty members from IIT-Roorkee
• Senior officials from C-DOT

During the event, Rajkumar Upadhyay emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “This collaboration brings together the expertise of India’s leading academic institute and the R&D strengths of C-DOT, to accelerate indigenous telecom innovation.” He added that the partnership aims to build technologies that reduce dependence on foreign systems and create new opportunities for India to lead in advanced domains such as 5G, 6G, AI, and secure communication systems.

Milestone for IIT-Roorkee

K. K. Pant remarked that the agreement marks a significant milestone for IIT-Roorkee, as it joins forces with C-DOT to advance India’s next-generation telecom capabilities. With a strong legacy in communication engineering, semiconductor technologies, and emerging wireless systems, IIT-Roorkee is well-positioned to complement C-DOT’s national mission to develop secure, indigenous, and future-ready telecom solutions.

The CoE is expected to provide a transformative platform for faculty, researchers, and students to co-develop technologies of strategic national importance. This collaboration will contribute to India’s long-term vision of technological leadership.

Lecture Series and Key Topics Discussed

As part of the sixth Prof. A.K. Kamal Memorial Lecture Series, Rajkumar Upadhyay delivered a lecture titled “Building Indigenous Communication Technologies for Viksit Bharat.” His talk covered various aspects of India’s telecom landscape, including:

• The Bharat 6G Vision
• The telecom value chain
• Standards and emerging opportunities for the country

Upadhyay also highlighted C-DOT’s indigenous solutions, which include:

• 4G/5G technologies
• TRINETRA cybersecurity solutions
• Secure quantum communication (QKD & PQC)
• Disaster management systems
• AI-enabled telecom applications such as Sanchar Saathi
• Fraud detection platforms
• Mission Critical Communication (MCX)

Previous Collaborations and Future Initiatives

Earlier this month, C-DOT launched another CoE with IIT-Gandhinagar, which aims to foster mobile communications, cybersecurity, quantum communication, AI, and advanced telecom applications through fundamental and applied research. This initiative strengthens research output, develops practical solutions to sector-specific challenges, and leverages niche and emerging technologies for related applications.

Both CoEs are designed to support incubation, mentoring, and collaboration with startups, industry, and academia to foster a strong innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem. They will provide training, capacity-building, and skilling programs in line with national telecom, semiconductor, and digital transformation missions, ultimately helping to develop an industry-ready workforce.

Collaborative Efforts and Future Goals

Both institutions will further cooperate on various initiatives, including:

• Scholarly publications
• Patent filings
• Joint seminars
• Final product development

These initiatives are designed to support the overall growth of the telecommunications sector in India, ensuring that the country remains at the forefront of technological advancements.

Note: This article provides an overview of the collaboration between C-DOT and IIT-Roorkee, highlighting the establishment of a Centre of Excellence aimed at fostering innovation in telecommunications and contributing to India’s self-reliance in technology.