Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia inaugurated a 5G Open RAN (O-RAN) testing lab at the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) in Bengaluru today. This lab will provide significant support to startups, academia, and the telecom industry for testing various 5G Open RAN components developed in India. During his visit, the Minister also witnessed a live demonstration of a 5G call using Open RAN technology developed by C-DOT.
The lab is part of the government’s initiative to foster the development of a fully indigenous 5G ecosystem. It will cover areas such as core, access, transport, cloud, orchestration, and security, aiding India’s ambition of becoming self-reliant in cutting-edge technology development. Shri Scindia also inaugurated the “Tejas Centre of Excellence for Wireless Communications” and launched Tejas Networks’ indigenously designed 32T32R Massive MIMO radio, capable of delivering over 1 Gbps download speeds using the 5G mid-band spectrum.
During his visit, Shri Scindia interacted with several Bengaluru-based startups and technology innovators, commending their role in advancing indigenous solutions in sectors such as telecom, space, and AI. Startups like Astrome, Chipspirit Technologies, Fasal Agri Tech, and several others showcased their innovations to the Minister. He highlighted C-DOT’s ongoing research collaborations and assured full policy support for research and innovation in Bengaluru, which is often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of India.’
At the Tejas Networks campus, the Minister expressed pride in Indian companies’ ability to develop high-quality, cutting-edge telecom products and compete with global players. He also acknowledged Tejas Networks’ key role in BSNL’s ongoing 4G/5G network rollout across India.
The Minister’s visit underscores India’s commitment to fostering homegrown technologies and supporting next-generation innovations, contributing to Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (Self-Reliant India) and “Viksit Bharat 2047” (Developed India by 2047).
Shri Scindia’s two-day tour will continue tomorrow with the inauguration of Cisco’s new manufacturing plant in Chennai, which will produce advanced telecom and networking equipment essential for 5G and future technologies. (Source: PIB)
