C-DOT and IIT Roorkee Join Forces for Development of Millimeter Wave Technology to Boost 5G Rural Connectivity

New Delhi: In a significant step toward bridging India’s digital divide, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee) to develop an innovative millimeter wave transceiver aimed at enhancing 5G rural connectivity. This collaboration, part of the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme, aligns with the government’s vision to support indigenous R&D for affordable telecom solutions across India.

The project, focusing on millimeter wave backhaul technology, aims to optimize rural connectivity by using a small number of Small Cell-Based Stations (SBSs) connected to a fiber-based gateway. The proposed transceiver design combines optical and millimeter wave technology to reduce device size and manufacturing costs, making it an attractive solution for small and medium-scale industries in India. By using polymer-based structures alongside metals, the project also reduces reliance on international semiconductor fabrication, creating job opportunities for Indian engineering graduates and fostering self-reliance in the telecom manufacturing sector.

This project also has ambitious goals for intellectual property creation, fostering a skilled workforce, and developing millimeter wave technology for emerging 5G and future 6G networks. The affordable technology is expected to open new opportunities in rural connectivity, particularly in remote areas where broadband access remains limited.

The agreement signing event saw participation from key stakeholders, including Prof. Nagendra Prasad Pathak, the principal investigator from IIT Roorkee, and Dr. Pankaj Kumar Dalela, Director of C-DOT. Prof. Pathak expressed appreciation for the collaboration, highlighting its potential to advance India’s telecom infrastructure and research capabilities.

Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, emphasized the organization’s commitment to leading telecom R&D in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, or self-reliant India. He reiterated that this project aims to keep India at the forefront of telecom technology development by focusing on research and innovation in 5G and 6G capabilities.