Key Points
- C-DOT establishes fifth Centre of Excellence at IISc Bengaluru for telecom R&D
- CoE to focus on 6G, quantum communications and AI-native network research
- Partnership brings together IISc academic research with C-DOT telecom expertise
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the telecom research arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has established a Centre of Excellence at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru to accelerate research in 6G, quantum communications and artificial intelligence-driven networks.
The centre, C-DOT’s fifth such facility, was set up through a tripartite agreement signed on 30 July with IISc and the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID), which manages industry partnerships for the Bengaluru-based research university.
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The Centre of Excellence will focus on wireless communications, quantum technologies, cybersecurity and AI-driven communication systems. Its research agenda includes 5G Advanced and 6G technologies, very large-scale MIMO systems, which use arrays of hundreds of antennas to boost network capacity and coverage, and integrated sensing and communication, where networks simultaneously transmit data and detect objects or movement.
The centre will also work on AI-native communication networks, systems designed from the ground up to use machine learning for network management, and quantum-secure communications, which use the principles of quantum physics to make intercepted messages unreadable.
Rajkumar Upadhyay, chief executive officer, C-DOT, said the partnership would create a platform for breakthrough research in emerging technologies.
“By bringing together IISc’s world-class research capabilities with C-DOT’s expertise in indigenous telecom technologies, we are creating a platform that will accelerate breakthrough research in 5G Advanced, 6G, AI, quantum communications and other emerging technologies,” Upadhyay said at the signing ceremony.
The centre aims to generate intellectual property, support deep-tech startups and facilitate knowledge exchange through collaborative research, workshops and training programmes.
Expanding national research network
C-DOT has previously established Centres of Excellence at IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar and IIT Roorkee. The expanding network reflects the organisation’s strategy of partnering with premier academic institutions for next-generation telecom research.
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Neelesh B Mehta, chair of the Department of Electrical Communication Engineering at IISc, said the partnership would foster long-term collaboration between IISc faculty and students working on cutting-edge research and C-DOT’s domain experts and engineers.
Omprakash Subbarao, chief executive officer, FSID, said the foundation was committed to bridging academia and industry. “We firmly believe that collaborative innovation is essential for strengthening India’s scientific ecosystem and technological leadership,” Subbarao said.
The agreement was signed in the presence of senior officials from C-DOT and faculty members from IISc. Upadhyay also delivered a lecture to the IISc community on secure indigenous communication technologies, covering telecom transformation, next-generation networks and quantum-secure communications.
Your Questions, Answered
What is the purpose of the C-DOT Centre of Excellence at IISc Bengaluru?
The centre will accelerate indigenous research in advanced communication technologies including 6G, quantum communications, cybersecurity and AI-driven communication systems through academic-industry collaboration.
How many Centres of Excellence has C-DOT established?
C-DOT has now established five Centres of Excellence. The previous four are at IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar and IIT Roorkee.
What technologies will the IISc centre research?
The centre will focus on 5G Advanced and 6G technologies, very large-scale MIMO systems, integrated sensing and communication, AI-native networks and quantum-secure communications.
What is FSID’s role in this partnership?
The Foundation for Science Innovation and Development manages industry partnerships for IISc Bengaluru and will facilitate collaboration between academia and C-DOT for research and innovation.