The Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has integrated many startups/MSMEs, academia and research institutions under its flagship ‘Telecom Design Collaboration Sprint’.
An event was organised by the DoT at IIIT, Bangalore, where 15 leading startups and MSMEs in the Radio Access Network (RAN), Core ecosystems, esteemed institutions such as IIT Madras, C-DOT, IIT Delhi and other network entities participated.
This collaboration is aimed at developing a comprehensive and future-ready telecom stack encompassing comprehensive 5G solutions and setting the stage for future advancements to 6G. The Sprint was driven by three primary objectives:
- Leveraging Collective Strengths: The Sprint enabled startups to combine expertise in critical 5G infrastructure areas, fostering innovation and speeding up a common telecom stack development.
- Fostering Holistic Solutions: Through collaboration, startups aim to create comprehensive 5G solutions, addressing industry needs and preparing for future advancements.
- Creating Market Opportunities: By aligning efforts, it seeks to unlock market potential, empowering startups to compete and grow in the telecom landscape.
After in-depth and extensive discussions during the sprint event, outcome-based focused groups were formed to address gaps in the Indian telecom ecosystem and get ready for 6G and other upcoming technologies. These groups will concentrate on areas like core infrastructure, distribution units (DUs), radio units (RUs), central units (CUs) and other elements to bridge current gaps and provide solutions that are suited to meet future needs.
Such an initiative exemplifies DoT’s commitment to nurturing innovation and fostering industry collaboration to propel India’s telecommunications sector towards global leadership in the 5G era and beyond. Bringing together the unique strengths and competence of startups and MSMEs, together with academia and industry, the DoT aims to create a robust and forward-looking mobile telecom stack with an emphasis on advancing towards 6G technology.