KHARAGPUR — In a major push toward indigenous technological advancement, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC)—the technical arm of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT)—has formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. The partnership aims to accelerate joint research, development, and global standardization efforts in next-generation telecom technologies.
The MoU was officially signed on February 23, 2026, at the IIT Kharagpur campus by Shri Kamal Kumar Agarwal, Deputy Director General (Finance & Administration) of TEC, and Prof. Debdeep Mukhopadhyay, Associate Dean (Research and Development) of IIT Kharagpur. The signing was witnessed by IIT Kharagpur Director Prof. Suman Chakraborty, alongside other senior academic and telecom officials.
Driving the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” Vision The primary objective of this collaboration is to develop India-specific standards for future networks, sharply reducing import dependence and securing the nation’s critical communications infrastructure.
“This partnership aims to accelerate indigenous R&D and increase India’s influence in global standardisation processes by strengthening India’s contributions to global bodies such as the ITU,” noted an official release regarding the agreement.
Strategic Areas of Focus The MoU establishes a structured framework for close collaboration across several critical technological domains:
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6G & Future Networks: Exploration of 6G network architecture and enabling technologies, with a focus on pre-standardization research.
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AI-Enabled Telecom Systems: Joint R&D for AI-driven Electromagnetic Field (EMF) monitoring solutions and smart IoT sensors to ensure public safety and regulatory compliance.
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Satellite & NTNs: Research into Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), High-Altitude Platform Systems (HAPS), and satellite-terrestrial integration tailored for disaster-resilient emergency connectivity.
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Advanced Hardware: Innovation in Passive Optical Networks, advanced antenna systems, and Massive MIMO technologies geared toward 5G and beyond.
By bridging regulatory foresight with premier academic research, the DoT hopes to elevate India’s engagement and leadership within the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-T) and other critical global forums.
