C-DOT and IIT Kharagpur Collaborate to Develop Cutting-edge Optical Network Technology

New Delhi: C-DOT, the premier Telecom R&D center of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, and the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-K), have joined forces to drive innovation in the telecom sector. The collaboration comes through an agreement signed under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.

The primary objective of the agreement is to develop prototypes for a 10-Gigabit-capable symmetric Passive Optical Network (XGS-PON) Optical Line Terminal (OLT) and Optical Network Unit (ONU). The TTDF scheme aims to provide funding support to domestic companies and institutions involved in the design, development, and commercialization of telecommunication products and solutions. The overarching goal is to enable affordable broadband and mobile services, particularly in rural and remote areas.

As part of the project, IIT Kharagpur will take the lead in developing prototypes for the XGS-PON OLT and ONU, capable of delivering 10 Gbps upstream and downstream access network technology. This initiative is expected to drive the design, development, and commercialization of cutting-edge solutions that can significantly contribute to the growth of affordable broadband and mobile services in India.

The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Assistant Professor Aneek Adhya from IIT Kharagpur, along with key representatives from C-DOT, including Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, and Directors Dr. Pankaj Kumar Dalela and Ms. Shikha Srivastava. Both C-DOT and IIT-K expressed their enthusiasm for the collaboration and reiterated their firm commitment to advancing technology in the telecom sector.

This collaboration represents a significant step towards leveraging the expertise of academia and research institutions in tandem with government support to drive innovation in the telecom sector. The development of state-of-the-art optical network technology is poised to play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity and expanding digital services, especially in underserved regions of the country.

The partnership between C-DOT and IIT Kharagpur is expected to yield transformative results, contributing to India’s technological advancement and reinforcing its position as a leader in the global telecom landscape. The development and deployment of 10-Gigabit-capable optical network solutions mark a strategic move towards building a robust and high-speed digital infrastructure in the country.