Army Training Command collaborates with IIT Madras for 5G Testbed at Military College of Telecommunication

Army Training Command (ARTRAC) is collaborating with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) to establish a 5G Testbed at Military College of Telecommunication Engineering (MCTE) at Mhow, Indore.

The collaboration will facilitate Indian Army to utilise the 5G technology for its operational use, especially along its borders.

This partnership between the Indian Army and IIT Madras will also encourage students, faculties and scientists to undertake research in area of 5G communications and development of military applications.

According to an official statement, an MoU towards this collaboration is signed on 20 June by Lieutenant General MU Nair, AVSM, SM, Commandant, Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, on behalf of the Army Training Command Shimla, and Prof V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, in the presence of Army Officials and faculty of the Institute.

“Latest communication technologies like 5G have a great relevance to the armed forces and it is important for their officers to acquaint themselves with such developments,” said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, ZOHO Chair Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, who is heading the 5G Testbed project.

Ramamurthi further said that this project to set up a 5G Testbed at MCTE will enable the students and trainees at the college to become thoroughly familiar with the advanced technologies embedded in the 5G system. It is an example of how the 5G Testbed developed with support from DoT to enable Indian companies and start-ups to test their products, can also be successfully leveraged for other productive purposes.

The statement further said that this collaboration will give a stimulus to induction of systems, devices and equipment using niche technology and use of AI-based algorithms for enhancing capabilities of Indian Armed Forces.

Under the ambit of the MoU, IIT Madras will provide consultancy, duly supported by research for feasibility studies and prototype development on 5G enabled future communications.