In a notable advancement for India's telecommunications technology, the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi) have entered into a collaborative agreement with the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT). This partnership aims to develop "Cell-Free 6G Access Points," marking a significant step toward advancing next-generation telecommunications technology.
The agreement was formalized under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme, which is managed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India. This fund is designed to support domestic companies, startups, academia, and R&D institutions involved in the design, development, and commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions. The TTDF scheme plays a crucial role in promoting affordable broadband and mobile services, thereby helping to bridge the digital divide across the country.
Traditional mobile networks typically rely on cellular topologies where each cell is served by a single base station, as seen in 4G and 5G networks. In contrast, the 'Cell-Free' Massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) approach eliminates the concept of cells and cell boundaries. Instead, it deploys numerous access points (APs) across a large area to simultaneously service multiple user devices. Each user may be supported by multiple APs within their coverage area, ensuring consistent connectivity, eliminating dead zones, and significantly enhancing signal strength and data speeds. This approach is expected to provide an exceptional user experience, particularly in densely populated areas.
The primary focus of this 6G project is to develop access points that will enable the forthcoming 6G radio access networks. The project also aims to contribute to the standardization of 6G, drive commercialization, generate intellectual property rights (IPRs), and foster the development of a skilled workforce to support the emerging 6G landscape.
The agreement was signed in a ceremony attended by key figures including Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT; Dr. Abhay Kumar Sah, principal investigator from IIT Roorkee; Dr. Adarsh Patel, co-investigator from IIT Mandi; and Dr. Pankaj Kumar Dalela, Director of C-DOT. During the event, Dr. Sah and Dr. Patel expressed their commitment to advancing next-generation communication technologies in line with the Prime Minister's Bharat 6G Vision. They acknowledged the support from DoT and C-DOT and emphasized the collaboration’s role in enhancing cutting-edge research and infrastructure in the telecom sector.
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay highlighted the importance of indigenously designed and developed technologies to meet the diverse communication needs of India. He reaffirmed C-DOT's commitment to the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative and emphasized the potential for generating valuable IPRs in the 6G domain.
Professor KK Pant, Director of IIT Roorkee, lauded the partnership as a significant milestone in the pursuit of indigenous development of advanced telecommunications technologies. He noted that this collaboration aligns with IIT Roorkee's mission to foster innovation and research excellence and contributes significantly to India’s 6G vision.
Representatives from C-DOT, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Mandi expressed their enthusiasm for the collaborative project, underscoring their commitment to shaping and advancing India’s 6G capabilities. This initiative represents a crucial step forward in achieving the nation’s goals for technological advancement and self-reliance in the telecommunications sector.
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