DoT Delegation Evaluates IIT Mandi's 5G Lab and Future 6G Research Initiatives

A delegation from the Department of Telecommunications visited IIT Mandi to evaluate the progress of its 5G Use-Case Lab. The visit aimed to explore the lab's contributions to real-world applications and its role in India's future 6G research. Discussions included enhancing student skills, industry collaboration, and ongoing projects funded by the Telecommunications Technology Development Fund. The delegation also interacted with students involved in community outreach initiatives, emphasizing the importance of telecom security and rural connectivity. This visit highlights IIT Mandi's commitment to advancing India's digital landscape.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 5, 2026, 18:34 IST

Delegation from DoT Visits IIT Mandi

Munish Sood
Mandi

A senior delegation from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in Shimla recently visited the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi to evaluate the advancements in its 5G Use-Case Lab and to discuss the institute's expanding role in the development of India's 6G research landscape.

The primary aim of the visit was to assess how the lab, supported by the DoT, is being leveraged for practical applications, fostering academic innovation, and promoting collaboration with industry, as India moves towards enhanced digital connectivity and self-reliance in telecommunications.

The delegation was headed by Shri Anil Kumar Gupta, Additional Director General Telecom and Advisor for Himachal Pradesh Licensed Service Area (LSA), accompanied by Shri Sandeep Arya, Deputy Director General (Technology), and Shri Ramesh Kumar, Assistant Director (Technology).

During their visit, the team engaged with the leadership of IIT Mandi, faculty from the School of Computing and Electrical Engineering (SCEE), and students involved in telecom research and outreach initiatives.

Dr. Adarsh Patel, Assistant Professor at SCEE and Nodal Officer of the 5G Use-Case Lab and Sanchar Mitra programme, provided an overview of the lab's academic projects, technical capabilities, and ongoing initiatives that actively involve students.

In his remarks, Prof. Laxmidhar Behera, Director of IIT Mandi, emphasized the significance of advanced communication research for the nation. He stated that the institute views the development of next-generation telecom as both a scientific duty and a vital contribution to India's long-term digital objectives, including the expansion of 5G and preparation for future 6G technologies.

Shri Anil Kumar Gupta pointed out that 5G Use-Case Labs have been set up in various higher education institutions to enhance student skills and provide practical experience in real-world telecom settings. He also mentioned that these facilities are available to startups, MSMEs, and industry partners, thereby reinforcing collaboration between academia and industry.

Discussions among faculty during the visit also focused on India's Bharat 6G Vision and the necessity of creating a comprehensive indigenous technology stack for future telecom systems. Experts, including Dr. Aditya Nigam, Chairperson of SCEE, along with Dr. Patel and Dr. Pavan Reddy, highlighted the lab's contribution to fostering scalable innovation and applied research.

IIT Mandi faculty also discussed ongoing partnerships with DoT and C-DOT through initiatives like the Telecommunications Technology Development Fund (TTDF). In the past year, researchers such as Dr. Adarsh Patel and Dr. Rahul Shrestha have secured over ₹4 crore in funding for next-generation telecom research.

The delegation also met with Sanchar Mitra students, who are actively promoting awareness about citizen-centric telecom services like Sanchar Saathi, while addressing issues related to digital fraud, online scams, and grievance resolution. The students were recognized for their outreach efforts and positive community impact.

This visit underscored IIT Mandi's increasing collaboration with DoT in enhancing telecom security, improving rural connectivity, and advancing national digital initiatives under the Digital India and Viksit Bharat programs.