Varanasi: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the research and development arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), has partnered with the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) focused on next-generation telecommunications technologies.
The two institutions signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on October 23, 2026, to create a platform for collaborative research, technology development and specialised training. The initiative will bring together researchers, faculty members, students and telecommunications experts to develop indigenous technologies for India’s evolving digital and communication infrastructure.
The new centre is C-DOT’s sixth Centre of Excellence, expanding its network of academic partnerships aimed at strengthening domestic telecommunications research and innovation.
5G Advanced, 6G and Quantum Technologies Among Key Focus Areas
The Centre of Excellence will concentrate on emerging communication technologies, combining advanced research with practical technology development.
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Its major research areas will include:
- 5G Advanced and 6G technologies: Research into next-generation mobile communication systems.
- Advanced wireless communications: Development of advanced wireless systems and very large-scale Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technologies.
- Artificial intelligence: Research into AI-native communication networks, devices and AI-driven communication systems.
- Quantum communications: Work on quantum and post-quantum communication technologies.
- Integrated Sensing and Communication: Exploring systems that combine communication and sensing capabilities.
- Cybersecurity: Research into technologies to strengthen the security of communication networks.
These areas are intended to support the development of future-ready communication systems and expand India’s indigenous capabilities in advanced telecommunications.
C-DOT and IIT-BHU Aim to Bridge Research and Industry Needs
The partnership is designed to connect academic research with practical telecommunications requirements. Researchers and students from IIT (BHU) will have opportunities to collaborate with C-DOT experts on emerging technology challenges.
The institutions will undertake joint research, encourage knowledge exchange and work towards developing technologies relevant to India’s digital infrastructure.
According to the Ministry of Communications, the collaboration is also intended to strengthen the pool of skilled professionals needed by the evolving telecommunications sector.
What C-DOT CEO Said About the New Centre
C-DOT CEO Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay described the initiative as an investment in India’s future technology capabilities.
He highlighted the growing importance of artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, advanced wireless systems and intelligent networks in shaping next-generation communications. He added that the centre would provide a collaborative ecosystem to explore these technologies and accelerate the development of indigenous solutions.
IIT (BHU) Director Professor Amit Patra said the partnership would help translate academic research into technological solutions. He noted that it would enable students and researchers to engage with real-world telecommunications challenges while contributing to India’s efforts to develop advanced communication technologies domestically.
Pankaj Kumar Dalela and Amit Patra Attend MoU Signing
The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Pankaj Kumar Dalela, Executive Vice President of C-DOT, and Professor Amit Patra, Director of IIT (BHU), Varanasi.
Faculty members from IIT (BHU) and senior C-DOT officials also attended the event. The signing ceremony was followed by the inauguration of the Centre of Excellence.
C-DOT Expands Its Network to Six Centres of Excellence
With the addition of IIT (BHU), C-DOT’s network of Centres of Excellence now includes six institutions. Its existing academic collaborations are with:
- Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur
- IIT Gandhinagar
- IIT Roorkee
- IIT Hyderabad
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, through the Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID)
The expanded network is intended to promote collaboration between telecommunications researchers and academic institutions, facilitate knowledge exchange and nurture specialised talent.
Through the new centre at IIT (BHU), C-DOT aims to strengthen research in next-generation communications and support the development of indigenous technologies for India’s future digital infrastructure.
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