New Delhi, Jan 8 (NationPress) The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), the technical division of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), announced on Thursday that it has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur). This collaboration aims to engage in joint studies, research, and technical contributions regarding advanced telecom technologies and global standardisation efforts.

The focus of this partnership will be the creation of India-specific standards and testing frameworks for emerging communication technologies, which encompass 6G, Artificial Intelligence in Telecom, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin, Metaverse, and Quantum Communication.

Furthermore, it seeks to strengthen India’s involvement and leadership within global standard-setting and radiocommunication organizations such as ITU-T, ITU-R, 3GPP, and other pertinent international platforms.

The agreement establishes a formal structure for TEC to collaborate closely with IIT Kanpur on next-generation telecom and standardisation initiatives.

Key collaboration areas will include the investigation of 6G architecture and enabling technologies, along with contributions to research, pre-standardisation, and standardisation efforts in global bodies like 3GPP and ITU. Additionally, there will be joint studies and technical contributions focusing on 4G, 5G, LTE-A, NB-IoT, and future networks, covering aspects like architecture, signalling, protocols, and interoperability testing. Research will also be conducted in AI/ML for network automation, optimization, and intelligent management, all aimed at developing AI-native capabilities for future networks.

Other significant areas include collaborative research into advanced antenna systems, massive MIMO, and related radio access technologies, as well as joint studies in satellite communication systems, NTNs, HAPS, and satellite-terrestrial integration, which will include solutions for disaster-resilient and emergency connectivity.

The ministry indicated that this partnership is intended to amplify India’s influence in global standardisation processes by strengthening the nation's contributions to institutions like ITU and 3GPP.

Moreover, the ministry emphasized that this collaboration will further the vision of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' by bolstering indigenous research, design, and manufacturing in telecommunications—developing standards and testing frameworks tailored to India, along with homegrown solutions that promote national self-reliance, secure critical communication infrastructures, and diminish reliance on imports.