C-DOT and Qualcomm Forge Strategic Partnership to Boost Telecom Innovation in India

Barcelona:  At the Mobile World Congress 2024 in Barcelona, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), a prominent Indian public-funded research institution specializing in telecom technology, announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated. The strategic partnership aims to catalyze innovation in India and provide support to local developers and startups working on cutting-edge products and solutions.

Under the partnership, Qualcomm Technologies will lend its expertise, state-of-the-art technology, intellectual property training, and tools to support C-DOT in enabling Indian startups, academia, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The collaboration seeks to expedite the development and commercialization of indigenous telecom products by leveraging Qualcomm’s wireless solutions and technologies.

Key objectives of the collaboration include:

• Facilitating access to foundational chip technologies and domain experts for startups, OEMs, and academia to stimulate innovation and scale up research and development efforts.
• Accelerating the commercialization and business development of Indian startups engaged in building indigenous telecom products and solutions.

Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Chairman of the Digital Communications Commission and Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, expressed pride in India’s innovative spirit. He highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering innovation, aligning with the vision of “Design in India” and “Make in India” to establish the nation’s leadership in the global telecom landscape.

Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, emphasized the collaboration’s potential to unlock India’s vast R&D potential and accelerate the commercialization of new products and use cases. He sees the partnership as a crucial step toward creating indigenous telecom solutions for both domestic consumption and global export.

Savi Soin, Senior Vice President and President of Qualcomm India, highlighted the thriving developer and startup ecosystem in India. She expressed Qualcomm’s commitment to being a trusted partner in India’s digital journey and emphasized the collaborative efforts to contribute to the nation’s growth story.

Gautam Sheoran, Vice President and General Manager of Wireless and Broadband Communications at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., expressed excitement about partnering with C-DOT. He affirmed Qualcomm’s dedication to fostering innovation and supporting developers, startups, and entrepreneurs across India.

The collaboration between C-DOT and Qualcomm aligns with India’s national objectives, including “Digital India,” “Make in India,” “BharatNet,” “Skill India,” “Startup India,” and “Smart Cities,” contributing to the vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” or self-reliant India.