Mandi: In a major stride toward advancing India’s indigenous telecommunications technology, the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has signed an agreement with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Mandi in collaboration with IIT Jammu. The partnership, under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), focuses on the development of a Wideband Spectrum-Sensor ASIC-Chip for Enhancing Spectrum Utilization. This project aims to improve spectrum efficiency by leveraging spectrum holes to deliver broadband services, particularly in rural areas
About the Project
The project is set to develop reliable, hardware-friendly algorithms to sense wideband spectrum—beyond 2 GHz of bandwidth—and efficiently utilize white spaces. The initiative will result in hardware solutions that scan over 2 GHz of the spectrum with minimal sensing time, significantly boosting the throughput of cognitive radio networks. The research will initially involve emulating designs in a field-programmable gate-array (FPGA) environment, followed by the creation of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) semiconductor chip. Additionally, the project targets the 6 GHz satellite band (5.925–7.125 GHz) for spectrum sensing and communication, aligning with India’s Semiconductor Mission.
The agreement was formalized at a ceremony attended by C-DOT Chief Executive Officer Dr. Raj Kumar Upadhyay, IIT Mandi’s Principal Investigator Dr. Rahul Shrestha, IIT Jammu’s Co-Investigator Dr. Rohit B. Chaurasiya, and other key stakeholders. Dr. Upadhyay highlighted the importance of indigenously developed spectrum sensing technologies to cater to India’s diverse needs, reinforcing the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
APAC News Analysis
This collaboration signifies India’s growing commitment to fostering indigenous research and development in advanced telecom technologies. By targeting dynamic spectrum access and efficient spectrum utilization, the project addresses two critical challenges—improving rural broadband access and enhancing telecom infrastructure resilience. Additionally, the creation of intellectual property (IP) in spectrum sensing technology strengthens India’s global positioning in the semiconductor domain. As India pivots toward self-reliance in critical technologies, this initiative underscores the importance of academic-industry partnerships in accelerating innovation and reducing reliance on imported technologies.
