C-DOT Opens Sixth Centre of Excellence at IIT (BHU)

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) established its sixth Centre of Excellence (CoE) at the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, on 23 October 2026. C-DOT and IIT (BHU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support collaborative research, technology development and specialised training.

C-DOT and the Centre of Excellence Network

C-DOT is an autonomous research and development centre under the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications. Established in 1984, it develops telecommunications technologies and systems. The new CoE was inaugurated in the presence of C-DOT Executive Vice-President Pankaj Kumar Dalela and IIT (BHU) Director Professor Amit Patra. C-DOT’s other CoE partnerships are with IIT Kanpur, IIT Gandhinagar, IIT Roorkee, IIT Hyderabad and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru. The Varanasi centre will provide a platform for academic research, technology development and training linked to communications technologies.

Research Areas and Communication Technologies

The centre’s research areas include advanced wireless communications, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies and cybersecurity. Specific fields include 5G Advanced and 6G technologies, very large-scale Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems, integrated sensing and communication, AI-native communication networks and devices, and quantum and post-quantum communication technologies. MIMO uses multiple transmitting and receiving antennas to support wireless communication. Integrated sensing and communication uses communication-system resources for both data transmission and sensing. Post-quantum cryptography concerns cryptographic methods developed to resist attacks from quantum computers.

Indigenous Telecommunications Research

The partnership’s stated objectives include connecting academic research with practical technology requirements and developing indigenous systems for India’s communications infrastructure. 5G Advanced is an evolution of 5G, while 6G refers to the next generation of mobile communication technologies. AI-native networks incorporate artificial intelligence into network functions and operations.

Important Facts for Exams

• C-DOT was established in 1984 as a telecommunications research and development centre.
• The Department of Telecommunications functions under the Ministry of Communications.
• MIMO is an antenna technology used in wireless communication systems.
• Quantum communication uses principles of quantum mechanics to transmit information.

The MoU between C-DOT and IIT (BHU) was signed on 23 October 2026. The Varanasi centre is C-DOT’s sixth Centre of Excellence.</numerusform