In a move to strengthen India’s leadership in next-generation telecommunications, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical arm of the India Government’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Naya Raipur. The partnership aims to advance research, innovation, and standardization in emerging telecom technologies such as Open RAN, 6G, and Internet of Things (IoT).
The collaboration will combine TEC’s expertise in telecom standardization with IIIT Naya Raipur’s research capabilities, setting the stage for India to play a larger role in shaping global telecom standards and innovation ecosystems.
“This partnership aligns with India’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat [Self-Reliance] and digital inclusion,” the Ministry said in a statement. “By leveraging indigenous research and developing India-specific test frameworks, the initiative will help reduce reliance on imported solutions and boost domestic capability in critical telecom infrastructure.”
Key Focus Areas:
- Open RAN and Network Disaggregation: Joint development of open interfaces, modular architectures, virtualization, and vendor interoperability to drive innovation and reduce vendor lock-in.
- Cognitive Radio and Spectrum Sharing: Research on coexistence frameworks and next-generation spectrum management, in line with WRC-27 agenda items.
- 5G/6G/IoT Frameworks: Collaborative efforts on future network generations and test environments for emerging technologies.
- Global Standardization: Active participation in ITU-T Study Groups and TEC’s National Working Groups to ensure India’s voice in international standards discussions.
- India-Specific Test Frameworks: Development of standards and interoperability solutions tailored to India’s unique digital ecosystem.
The MoU is expected to bolster India’s participation in international policy and standards forums, while enabling real-world testbeds and research collaborations that can fast-track innovation.
According to the TEC, the initiative will help create “affordable, interoperable, and vendor-neutral solutions” suited to India’s diverse connectivity landscape — from urban centers to rural and remote regions. It will also pave the way for indigenous technology development as India prepares for the rollout of 6G networks and advanced IoT applications.
By aligning academic research with national telecom priorities, the TEC-IIIT Naya Raipur partnership marks a significant step toward strengthening India’s global competitiveness in the evolving telecom landscape.
