CHENNAI: Larsen & Toubro Infotech (BSE: 540005, NSE: LTI), a global technology consulting and digital solutions company, is partnering with IIT Madras, one of India’s leading research institutes, for collaborative research in the field of 5G. Through this collaboration, LTI and IIT Madras aim to innovate in the emerging 5G space and enable validation of 5G frameworks, low frequency RF deployments and use case testing with 5G testbed.
Under this partnership, LTI and IIT Madras will promote research to develop a low-cost, low-frequency 5G network configuration for better connectivity in rural India. The main focus of this effort is to create a 5G base station and single-box solution to enable rural connectivity. LTI will work closely with IIT Madras to design these low cost base stations and network for rural connectivity. LTI will also provide expertise for research capabilities and offer relevant infrastructural support for this initiative.
Underscoring the need for such projects, Mr. Nachiket Deshpande, COO and Board Member of LTI, said, “5G promises to facilitate the next level of innovation to build a smarter society, but it is important to ensure that these benefits reach all regions of our country. LTI’s partnership with IIT Madras reflects our commitment to leveraging this technology to better connect people in remote parts of India.
This project is part of LTI’s 1step CSR program and reflects its commitment to promote research and innovation (SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure). Through its support for the development of an indigenous 5G network, this partnership is also aligned with the Government of India’s “Make-in-India” initiative.
Speaking on the R&D capabilities of IIT Madras, Prof. Mahesh Panchagnula, Dean (Alumni & Corporate Relations), IIT Madras said, “IITM’s 5G testbed project is an effort to encourage Indian startups and industry to quickly take the lead in 5G. The project’s goal is to build a test bed that closely resembles an actual 5G deployment. »
Additionally, Dr. Radha Krishna Ganti, Assistant Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras and Principal Investigator for this CSR project, said, “5G technology has immense potential and could prove to be the best option to bridge the digital divide in India. . For advanced urban areas, this will help advance and enhance the benefits of digital technologies over a faster connectivity network. Our core strength of academic excellence will provide the right partnership platform needed to contribute to these digital goals of our nation. We look forward to our collaboration with LTI and aim to create a positive impact for society as a whole.
The collaboration with IIT Madras further strengthens LTI’s expertise on 5G-based solutions. LTI will also work with IIT Madras to create and validate use cases leveraging the 5G testbed for application in several areas such as smart manufacturing, industry 4.0, smart cities and media.
These efforts aim to create a cutting-edge 5G framework and enable end customers to leverage 5G infrastructure to accelerate their digital transformation journey.
