Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), Department of Telecommunications (DoT), inaugurated the three-day Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Symposium-2025 at the IIT Madras Research Park. Organized in partnership with IIT Madras and Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE) India, the symposium showcases India’s ongoing commitment to developing sovereign capabilities in next-generation telecom technologies and bridging the digital divide through robust indigenous research and innovation.
A Confluence of Leadership and Vision
Joining Dr. Neeraj Mittal at the inaugural session were Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras; Shri Gulzar Natarajan, Additional Secretary (Telecom); Dr. Parag Agarwal, DDG (TTDF); and Prof. R.K. Ghanti of IIT Madras. Their collective presence highlighted the collaborative strength and shared vision required to transform India’s telecom landscape through the TTDF initiative.
Dr. Neeraj Mittal underlined the strategic significance of the event, calling it a “pivotal moment in India’s telecom journey”. He reiterated the government’s emphasis on innovation and resource optimization and announced the development of a new portal to streamline the sharing of R&D infrastructure among stakeholders. He also urged researchers, startups, and industry players to submit feedback for improving TTDF’s effectiveness and inclusivity.
TTDF: Accelerating Innovation from Lab to Field
Launched as a flagship initiative by the DoT, the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) has become a cornerstone of India’s efforts to strengthen domestic R&D and innovation in the telecom sector. The scheme aims to generate synergies among academia, startups, research institutes, and industries. TTDF supports:
- Indigenous technology ownership
- Innovation-led manufacturing
- Export-oriented product development
- Intellectual Property (IP) creation
- Reduction of telecom imports
With over 1300 proposals received, the scheme has approved 120 projects worth ₹500 crore, of which ₹187 crore has already been disbursed across India to academic institutions, startups, MSMEs, and research organizations.
Showcasing Innovation: The Multi-Core Fiber Testbed Launch
One of the landmark moments at the symposium was the announcement of the Multicore Fiber (MCF) Testbed Project, a collaborative venture between IIT Madras and STL Technologies. This cutting-edge test facility spans over 5 km of underground and aerial fiber cable, combining 12 multi-core fibers (each with 4 cores) and 12 traditional single-mode fibers. Designed to drive research in next-gen optical communication, the testbed is open to academic and industrial partners for performance testing and interoperability assessments.
Thought Leadership and Strategic Directions
Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, applauded the Department of Telecommunications for its support and noted the large number of funded projects under TTDF in the past two years. He called upon research institutions to rise to the challenge and deliver transformative outcomes that meet national expectations.
Shri Gulzar Natarajan stressed the importance of collective strength and described TTDF as a “strategic vehicle” to meet India’s economic, technological, and security goals. He urged that the fund should be seen not merely as financial assistance, but as a tool to create long-term, scalable solutions in telecom.
Symposium Highlights and Objectives
With over 500 participants, including principal investigators, deans, faculty members, industry leaders, MSMEs, startups, and officials from DoT and other government bodies, the symposium is a hub of cross-sectoral interaction. Representatives from Bharat 6G Alliance, TSDSI, C-DoT, COAI, and major telecom companies are also taking part.
Key Themes and Objectives:
- Enhance collaboration across sectors to resolve technical, financial, and administrative hurdles.
- Foster innovation aligned with national priorities like 6G, AI/ML for IoT, quantum communication, and satellite networks.
- Promote IPR generation, technology commercialization, and development of indigenous telecom solutions.
- Build a cohesive ecosystem that accelerates deep-tech innovation and global competitiveness.
Looking Ahead
The TTDF Symposium 2025 marks a decisive step in India’s evolution as a telecom technology leader. It reaffirms the nation’s focus on indigenous innovation, capability building, and global collaboration. As Dr. Mittal aptly summarized, the time is ripe for India to “leapfrog” into the future of telecommunications, not just as a consumer, but as a pioneer in cutting-edge technology.
