The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, a leading institution of national importance, for establishing C-DOT’s sixth Centre of Excellence (CoE). The partnership brings together C-DOT, a market leader in indigenous telecommunications research and development with the academic and research strengths of IIT (BHU), Varanasi, to strengthen India’s telecom innovation ecosystem.
The collaboration between C-DOT and IIT (BHU) is aimed at bridging academic research with real-world technology requirements, creating opportunities for innovation while building a strong pipeline of skilled professionals for the evolving telecommunications sector. It will bring together researchers, faculty, students and technology experts from C-DOT and IIT (BHU) to undertake joint research and promote sustained knowledge exchange. The initiative will strengthen academia and industry to support development of native technologies in areas critical to nation’s digital and communication infrastructure.
CoE will focus in technologies such as Wireless Communications, Quantum Technologies, Cybersecurity and AI-driven Communication Systems. It will undertake advanced research in emerging areas including 5G Advanced/6G Technologies, very large-scale Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, Integrated Sensing and Communication, AI-Native Communication Networks and devices, and Quantum and Post-Quantum Communication Technologies.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Pankaj Kumar Dalela, EVP, C-DOT, and Professor Amit Patra, Director, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, along with faculty members from IIT (BHU) and senior officials from C-DOT. The signing ceremony was followed by the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence dedicated to advancing communication technologies through collaborative research and innovation.
Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO, C-DOT, highlighted the importance of the collaboration and said, “This Centre of Excellence is more than a research platform, it is an investment in India’s future technology capabilities. The next generation of communications will be shaped by advances in AI, quantum technologies, advanced wireless systems and intelligent networks. Through this CoE, C-DOT and IIT (BHU) are creating a collaborative ecosystem to explore these frontiers and accelerate the development of indigenous technologies for India’s digital future.”
Prof Amit Patra, Director, IIT (BHU), said, “The collaboration with C-DOT will provide a strong platform for translating academic research into impactful technological solutions. It will enable our students and researchers to engage with real-world challenges in telecommunications while contributing to India’s journey towards self-reliance in advanced communication technologies.”
The establishment of the CoE further expands C-DOT’s national network of Centres of Excellence to six, building on its existing collaborations with IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Roorkee, IIT Hyderabad and IISc Bengaluru through FSID. Together, these Centres serve to contribute to the development of future-ready communication technologies, promote knowledge exchange and nurture specialised talent.
MoU signing in presence of Shri Pankaj Kumar Dalela, EVP-, C-DOT, and Professor Amit Patra, Director, IIT (BHU), Varanasi, for the establishment of Centre of Excellence (CoEs) at Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi.