TEC and IIT Bombay Partner to Drive India’s Leadership in 6G, AI, and Global Telecom Standards

In a significant move to enhance India’s position in advanced telecommunications, the Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC), under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) of the Government of India, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT Bombay). This collaboration aims to propel India into a leading role in the global race towards 6G technology and to establish robust standards in telecommunications.

Details of the MoU

The MoU was signed on November 7, 2025, at IIT Bombay by Shri Amit Kumar Srivastava, Deputy Director General (Mobile Technologies) at TEC, and Prof. Sachin Patwardhan, Dean (R&D) at IIT Bombay. The signing ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Shri Syed Tausif Abbas, Senior DDG and Head of TEC, and Prof. Prasanna S. Chaporkar from the Electrical Engineering Department at IIT Bombay.

Goals of the Partnership

The primary objective of this partnership is to strengthen India’s involvement in international standards organizations such as the International Telecommunication Union – Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The collaboration will focus on:

Conducting joint studies and research on 6G technology and its enabling architectures.
Developing India-centric standards and testing frameworks to enhance local capabilities.
Providing technical contributions to international standardization efforts.

Key Areas of Focus

The MoU outlines several key areas where TEC and IIT Bombay will collaborate:

1. 6G Technology Research

The partnership will engage in collaborative studies aimed at developing the architecture and technologies that will underpin 6G networks. This includes:

Active contributions to pre-standardization research.
Providing strategic inputs to 3GPP working groups.

2. Telecom Core Networks

In-depth studies will be conducted to optimize core network design and performance. This involves:

Creating frameworks to enhance network reliability.
Improving scalability to meet growing demands.

3. AI-Driven Telecom Solutions

Research will focus on the integration of artificial intelligence in telecommunications, including:

Intelligent network management.
Predictive maintenance and automation techniques.

4. Satellite Communication Systems

The development of cost-effective satellite terminals will be prioritized to improve connectivity in rural areas. This includes:

Creating scalable solutions for underserved regions.
Enhancing remote sensing capabilities.

5. Signalling Protocols and Network Requirements

Joint efforts will be made to provide technical input into signalling mechanisms for next-generation networks. This includes:

Developing India-specific signalling architecture frameworks.
Contributing to the standards for VoIP and network slicing.

Aligning with Atmanirbhar Bharat

This collaboration is in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative, which aims to foster self-reliance in India. The partnership will:

Encourage indigenous innovation in telecom technology.
Reduce dependency on foreign technologies and standards.
Empower local industries with tested frameworks and solutions.
Secure critical communications infrastructure through homegrown technologies.

Future Outlook

As the global race toward 6G technology accelerates, this strategic partnership between TEC and IIT Bombay positions India as a key contributor rather than just a consumer of technology. By leveraging the academic prowess of IIT Bombay and the technical expertise of TEC, the collaboration holds the potential to transform the future of telecommunications in India.

Note: This article is based on information available as of November 2025 and aims to provide insights into the collaboration between TEC and IIT Bombay.

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