The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier telecom research and development centre under the Department of Telecommunications, has signed a tripartite agreement with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID) to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the IISc campus. The CoE will serve as a dedicated hub for indigenous research, innovation, and commercialisation of advanced communication technologies. This is the fifth such CoE established by C-DOT, following similar collaborations with IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, and IIT Roorkee.
About C-DOT: India’s Telecom R&D Pioneer
C-DOT was established in August 1984 as an autonomous telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications. It was founded by Sam Pitroda with the initial mandate of designing and developing digital exchanges suited to Indian conditions. Over four decades, C-DOT has evolved into a full-fledged telecom R&D institution with CMMI Level 5 certification, developing products in switching, optical, satellite, wireless communication, and network management.
Headquartered in New Delhi, with offices in Bengaluru and Kolkata, C-DOT is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and is recognised as a public funded research institution by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). The organisation has been instrumental in building India’s telecom manufacturing ecosystem through its technology transfer model, spawning a wide base of equipment manufacturers and component vendors. Its current CEO is Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay.
The Tripartite Agreement
Under the agreement, C-DOT has established the CoE at FSID, which is the technology transfer and incubation arm of IISc. FSID serves as a single-window access point to the deep science and deep tech expertise available within IISc, providing collaborative research, incubation, product development, and consulting services.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, and Mr. Omprakash Subbarao, CEO of FSID, along with faculty members from IISc and senior officials from C-DOT. The signing was followed by the inauguration of the CoE and a special lecture by Dr. Upadhyay on the role of C-DOT in building secure indigenous communication technologies for Viksit Bharat.
Partners in the Agreement
| Partner | Role |
|---|---|
| C-DOT | Telecom R&D centre under DoT; provides technical expertise, funding, and industry linkages |
| IISc Bengaluru | Premier research institution established in 1909 through the vision of Jamsetji Tata; provides academic leadership and research talent |
| FSID | Technology transfer and incubation foundation of IISc; hosts and manages the CoE infrastructure |
Research Focus of the Centre of Excellence
The CoE will concentrate on research and innovation in four broad strategic domains that are critical to India’s digital future.
Wireless Communications and Next-Generation Networks
The Centre will focus on 5G Advanced and 6G technologies, very large-scale MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) systems, and integrated sensing and communication. These technologies promise dramatic improvements in data speeds, network capacity, and latency compared to current 5G networks.
Quantum Technologies
Research in quantum communication and post-quantum communication technologies is a key focus area. These aim to create communication networks that are immune to attacks from quantum computers, ensuring long-term security of India’s telecom infrastructure.
AI-Native Communication Networks
The CoE will work on AI-driven communication systems and AI-native communication networks and devices. Unlike traditional networks that add AI as an afterthought, AI-native networks are designed from the ground up with artificial intelligence embedded in their core architecture.
Cybersecurity
Research in cybersecurity will address the growing threats to telecom networks, including securing critical infrastructure against sophisticated cyberattacks.
C-DOT’s Expanding Network of CoEs
With the IISc collaboration, C-DOT now operates five Centres of Excellence across India’s leading academic institutions:
| CoE Partner Institution | Established |
|---|---|
| IIT Hyderabad | June 2026 |
| IIT Kanpur | Before July 2026 |
| IIT Gandhinagar | Before July 2026 |
| IIT Roorkee | Before July 2026 |
| IISc Bengaluru | July 2026 |
This growing network reflects C-DOT’s strategy of leveraging academic partnerships to create a national innovation ecosystem for telecommunications.
Significance of the Collaboration
The establishment of this CoE holds multiple layers of significance for India’s telecom sector and its broader technology ambitions.
Advancing Self-Reliance in Telecom. The CoE directly supports the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) by developing indigenous alternatives to imported telecom technologies. This is particularly critical as global supply chains face disruptions and trust deficits in telecom equipment from certain countries.
Strengthening the 6G Roadmap. India has set ambitious targets for 6G deployment, and foundational research conducted now at institutions like IISc will determine whether India leads or follows in the next generation of wireless technology. The CoE’s focus on AI-native networks and advanced MIMO systems positions India to contribute to global 6G standards.
Creating Intellectual Property and Deep-Tech Startups. The collaboration is designed to generate patents and intellectual property, and to support deep-tech startups through FSID’s incubation ecosystem. This aligns with the government’s push to build a startup culture in deep technology areas.
Bridging Academia and Industry. The CoE will facilitate continuous knowledge exchange through workshops, training programmes, and joint research projects. This helps address the gap between academic research and commercial deployment, a persistent challenge in India’s technology landscape.
Key Takeaways
- C-DOT was established in August 1984 as an autonomous telecom R&D centre under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications.
- C-DOT is headquartered in New Delhi and is recognised as a public funded research institution by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR).
- The tripartite agreement was signed between C-DOT, IISc Bengaluru, and the Foundation for Science Innovation and Development (FSID).
- IISc Bengaluru was established in 1909 through the vision of Jamsetji Tata and is a premier institution of national importance.
- The CoE will focus on 5G Advanced/6G, quantum technologies, AI-native communication networks, and cybersecurity.
- This is the fifth CoE established by C-DOT, following collaborations with IIT Hyderabad, IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, and IIT Roorkee.
