NCA-F, ITU, and IISc Host Workshop on “BHARAT 6G VISION: TRANSLATING RESEARCH TO STANDARDS”

Bengaluru: The National Communications Academy – Finance (NCA-F), in collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Area Office, Delhi, and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore, has inaugurated a two-day workshop on “BHARAT 6G VISION: TRANSLATING RESEARCH TO STANDARDS.” The workshop is being held at IISc, Bengaluru, on the 2nd and 3rd of September 2024.

The event was officially opened by Sh. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), who emphasized the significance of India’s role in shaping global ICT standards and the importance of fostering innovation in the 6G domain. This workshop brings together over 200 participants, including government officials, industry leaders, academicians, researchers, and students, aiming to build comprehensive capacity on the ITU standardization process and highlight the critical role of Standard Essential Patents in the ICT sector.

The workshop is structured to provide in-depth insights and skills necessary for Indian entities to make meaningful contributions to the global standards-making process at ITU. By facilitating interactive sessions and panel discussions, the event seeks to groom future leaders in ICT standardization and patent processes.

The first day’s agenda features a high-profile panel discussion on enhancing India’s contributions to the ITU standards-making process. The discussion includes senior officials from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), prominent industry leaders, and top academicians from IISc and the National Law School of India University (NLSIU). Following this, Mr. Robert Clark, Advisor at ITU Geneva, will lead workshops focused on the skills needed to draft and present contributions to the ITU, as well as effective negotiation strategies. The day concludes with engaging role-play exercises and quizzes designed to reinforce learning.

The second day is dedicated to Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) with a special emphasis on Standard Essential Patents in the telecom sector. An expert from NLSIU will kick off the day with an introductory session, setting the stage for a subsequent panel discussion that includes representatives from the government, patent office, industry, and academia. The workshop will culminate with a session on the upcoming World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024, which India will host for the first time in Delhi this October.

The NCA-F, formerly known as the National Institute for Communication Finance, is an ‘Utkrisht’ accredited central training institute under the Ministry of Communications. It plays a pivotal role in meeting the training needs of the Department of Telecom and the Department of Posts. The ITU Area Office for South Asia and Innovation Centre, established in Delhi in 2023, aims to bridge the Digital Divide and promote innovation in ICT across South Asia by uniting governments, industries, and academia.

This workshop is a significant step towards realizing the vision of “BHARAT 6G” and positioning India as a leader in the next generation of global telecommunications standards