In a move towards advancing Indigenous technology, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a premier Telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, has signed a significant agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) and the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi). This partnership aims to develop ‘Cell-Free’ 6G Access Points, marking a substantial step forward in India’s telecommunications landscape.
The agreement, inked under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the DoT, is designed to provide funding support to domestic companies, Indian startups, academia, and R&D institutions involved in technology design, development, and commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions. The TTDF scheme is pivotal in enabling affordable broadband and mobile services, playing a crucial role in bridging the digital divide across India.
Traditional mobile networks, such as those using 4G and 5G technologies, rely on cellular topologies, where each cell is serviced by a single base station. In contrast, ‘Cell-Free’ Massive MIMO (multiple-input and multiple-output) technology revolutionizes this model by eliminating the concept of cells and cell boundaries. It deploys multiple access points (APs) across a vast region to serve numerous user devices simultaneously. Each user is supported by multiple APs within their coverage area, ensuring ubiquitous connectivity, eliminating dead zones, enhancing signal strength, and significantly boosting data speeds. This approach promises an exceptional user experience, even in densely populated areas.
The 6G project will focus on developing APs to enable the upcoming 6G radio access networks. It also aims to contribute to the 6G standardization activity, drive commercialization, generate intellectual property rights (IPRs), and develop a skilled workforce to support the emerging 6G landscape.
The agreement was signed during a ceremony attended by 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. Dr. Sah and Dr. Patel affirmed their commitment to advancing next-generation communication technologies, aligning with the Bharat 6G Vision launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. They expressed gratitude to the DoT and C-DOT for this collaborative opportunity, emphasizing its role in enhancing research capabilities and infrastructure in the telecom sector.
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay highlighted the importance of indigenously designed and developed technologies in meeting the specific communication needs of India’s diverse population. He reaffirmed the commitment to “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) and emphasized the potential for generating IPRs in the 6G domain and emerging technologies.
The representatives from C-DOT, IIT Roorkee, and IIT Mandi expressed their enthusiasm and dedication to this collaborative endeavor, aiming to develop and shape India’s 6G vision.
