New Delhi: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), India’s premier telecom R&D organization under the Ministry of Communications, celebrated its 42nd Foundation Day at its Delhi campus, marking more than four decades of pioneering innovation in India’s telecom landscape.
Minister Highlights Telecom’s Role in National Security
The celebrations were inaugurated by Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development. Addressing C-DOT engineers, he emphasized the growing strategic importance of telecom in national defense.
“You are not only technologists but also guardians of India’s digital borders,” Dr. Pemmasani stated, underscoring the role of telecom infrastructure in securing the nation’s digital future.
He also called upon C-DOT to emerge as a globally respected institution by 2047, aligning with India’s centennial independence goals.
Read also: Next-Gen Tech Wonderland in Delhi: NBCC & C-DOT Partner on Rs 220 Crore Innovation Hub
Support for Innovation and Atmanirbhar Bharat
Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Chairman of the Digital Communication Commission and Secretary (Telecom), lauded C-DOT’s contributions and encouraged a sharper focus on indigenous R&D, innovation, and scalable solutions that address local and global challenges. He assured the full support of the government in advancing Atmanirbhar Bharat in the telecom sector.
Milestones in AI, Cybersecurity, and Telecom Core Development
C-DOT CEO Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay highlighted significant achievements, including:
- Delivery of an indigenous 4G core for BSNL
- Use of AI technologies to disconnect over 5 crore fraudulent mobile connections, significantly curbing cyber fraud
He reaffirmed C-DOT’s position as a driver of self-reliant and secure telecom infrastructure.
Expert Sessions on Emerging Technologies
The event featured enriching technical sessions from renowned national and international experts in:
- 6G and Next-Gen Networks
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cybersecurity
- Quantum Communication
Speakers included:
- Dr. Arun Kumar Singh (Ilantus Services, USA)
- Prof. Sandeep Shukla (IIT Hyderabad)
- Prof. Ranjan Bose & Dr. Brajesh Lall (IIT Delhi)
- Dr. C.M. Chandrashekhar (IISc)
NIDHI Program Recognizes Women-Led Startups
A major highlight was the recognition of 10 women-led startups under the NIDHI initiative, launched by C-DOT to promote Women Entrepreneurship in ICT. Each received grants to support R&D of indigenous telecom innovations.
This initiative reflects C-DOT’s commitment to inclusive growth and innovation through industry-academia collaboration.
C-DOT’s Legacy and Vision for the Future
Since its inception in 1984, C-DOT has been at the heart of India’s telecom transformation—connecting rural areas, advancing BharatNet, and delivering robust solutions in:
- Disaster management
- 4G/5G
- IoT/M2M applications
- Network Management Systems
Now, with a focus on 6G research, C-DOT is gearing up to position India as a global leader in telecom technologies.
Read also: C-DOT and Synergy Quantum Sign MoU to Develop Drone-Based Quantum Key Distribution Technology
About C-DOT
The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) is an Indian Government owned telecommunications technology development centre. It was established in 1984 with initial mandate of designing and developing digital exchanges. C-DOT has expanded to develop telecom equipment both wireless and wired since 1980’s. It has offices in Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata. While not a traditional Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) in the way entities like BSNL are, it’s often referred to as a PSU due to its government ownership and funding.
