The technology was indigenously developed by IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur and SAMEER which is also known as Society for Applied Microwave Electronics Engineering and Research (SAMEER) developed a ‘5G RAN sub-system’ at the 5G Test Bed.

It will be paying a Transfer of Technology (ToT) non-exclusive, license fee of Rs. 12 crore in multiple instalments based on technical milestones, say sources from IIT Madras.

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, IIT Madras represented IIT Madras. Dr. Kumar N. Sivarajan, CTO of TEJAS NETWORKS, Dr. P. Hanumantha Rao, Director General, SAMEER were there on behalf of their respective institutions.

Also present were Prof. Rohit Budhiraja, IIT Kanpur and Dr. Radhakrishna Ganti, IIT Madras, who are the Principal Investigators of 5G Test bed from their respective institutes.

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Prof. Ajit Kumar Chaturvedi, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Kanpur and former Director, IIT Roorkee, representative on behalf of Director IIT Kanpur, were among the attendees of the event.

Director of IIT Madras

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, he was very pleased that TEJAS NETWORKS is planning to adopt this 5G RAN technology developed indigenously by a multi-institutional team of researchers.

This initiative is in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision of the Government of India, said Director of IIT Madras.

IIT Madras director further said this was an outstanding example of how translational research must happen in an inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary manner.

This is a great example of how research should translate into a product and then get deployed. I hope a billion users of our country will benefit from this technology, said IIT Madras director.

Our faculty have played a pivotal role in the development of this state-of-the-art indigenous 5G Test bed, specifically by developing the Baseband Unit (BBU) of the 5G NR base station at the institute, he said.

‘As we know, 5G test bed has been developed as part of a multi-institute collaborative project.’

This collaborative effort not only complements India’s stride in ground-breaking transformative innovation but also opens up tremendous growth prospects for India’s rapidly evolving telecommunication industry, he said.

Test Bed

The 5G Test Bed was developed indigenously through a collaborative project involving eight institutes and funded by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, say sources from IIT Madras.

The 5G Test Bed was inaugurated by Narendra Modi, Prime Minister, in May 2022, and has since been used extensively by industry and academia for testing new 5G products and use-cases.

Journey

Dr. P. Hanumantha Rao, Director General, SAMEER, said, “We at SAMEER, an autonomous R&D organisation under the Ministry of Electronics and information technology (MeitY), are pleased to be part of this journey of building an Indigenous end-to-end 5G solution as a home-grown technology in India.

SAMEER has contributed in building an active MIMO and massive MIMO antennas and fully integrated mmWave phased arrays at FR1 (Sub 6 GHz) and FR2 (mmWave) bands respectively.

The knowledge sharing of fully-functional 5G RAN technology of SAMEER in collaboration with IIT Madras and IIT Kanpur to Industry is a breakthrough achievement to create a secured 5G eco-space in telecom sector, he said.

This sets a new benchmark in industry-academia collaboration in India’s high-technology sector.

As India’s leading R&D driven telecom products company, we look forward to translating these cutting-edge innovations and integrating them into industry-leading products and solutions for India and the world, he said.

Milestone

Dr. Radhakrishna Ganti, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, and Principal Investigator from IIT Madras, 5G Testbed Project said this milestone achievement is an outcome of collaboration between academic institutions, research organisations and industry with the support from the Department of Telecommunications.

This will undoubtedly shape the future of telecom technologies and deployments in India, he said.

The event was hosted along with 50 other nodal centres across the nation by KCG College of Technology which is a part of Hindustan Group of Institutions.

Organizers

SIH 2024 was organized by All India Council For Technical Education (AICTE), Ministry of Education of Government of India, Institute Innovation Council (IIC) of Ministry of Education.

Union Education Minister emphasized that hackathon is a fine platform for nurturing the nation’s future. He further spoke on the youth of India.

Their role is crucial when it comes to nation’s transformation into a knowledge economy and global growth engine, said Union Minister.

Prime Minister

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the participants on the first of the contest. He praised the extraordinary talent of Indian youth.

Solutions generated through hackathon have been immensely useful for the nation.

He expressed confidence that the ideas developed in the hackathon would contribute significantly to strengthening India’s leadership in technology and innovation.

Theme

Theme provided to KCG College of Technology was ‘Revolutionising India’s Postal Infrastructure through Technological Innovation’, a problem statement issued by the Ministry of Communications’ Department of Posts to modernise one of India’s oldest institutions.

Inauguration at KCG College of Technology

The inaugural ceremony held at the nodal centre of KCG College of Technology was
held in a grand manner and Dr. K. Radhakrishnan, Former Director General of Police and Member of the Fifth Police Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu was the chief guest.

Dr. K. Radhakrishnan speaking at the inauguration at KCG College of Technology said technology isn’t just about gadgets—it’s about making life better, building trust, and creating solutions that change lives.

Addressing the participants ,he said ‘Your creativity, drive, and passion have the potential to shape not just industries, but the entire country.”

He also highlighted the role of the Smart India Hackathon in bridging the gap between education and industry, empowering young minds to tackle real-world challenges.

She said Smart India Hackathon is not just a competition; it is a celebration of innovation.

Dr. M. Muthukannan, Principal of KCG College of Technology welcomed the gathering.

Dignitaries present during the inauguration were K A Devaraj, Director, Postal Service (HO), TN Circle, Ankur Tiwari, Deputy General Manager, Parcel Directorate, M Pattabhiraman, Deputy Manager, CERT, Mohandoss K, Deputy Manager, CEPT, Samrat Shinde, Principal Engineering Manager, Persistent Systems Ltd, Anand Sivaraj, Manager (IP & Technology Transfer), AICTE Innovation Centre, Chennai.

Contest

The event witnessed a rigorous two-round mentor discussion and three-round evaluation process, say sources from KCG College of Technology.

Following each discussion, participants refined their codes and presented updated work for evaluation, showcasing their adaptability and dedication to innovation.

The event also featured an engaging cultural programme, organised by the college’s music and dance clubs, which included songs in different languages , Tamil Nadu’s traditional folk dances like Karakattam and Silambattam, alongside contemporary Western performances, adding a fun dimension to the intense innovation marathon.

Valedictory

Valedictory ceremony for the event was held on the second day. Chief guest for it was Mr. Kuhan Madhan, Associate Vice President, Guidance Tamil Nadu.

He is also a notable alumnus of KCG College of Technology from EEE of 2005-2009 batch.

Mr. Madhan’s return to his alma mater for this prestigious event symbolised the enduring connection between the institution and its graduates, showcasing the impact of KCG College of Technology in shaping successful professionals.

Dr Annie Jacob speaking at the valedictory highlighted the transformative potential of technology in reshaping India’s future.

She said that through the theme ‘Revolutionising India’s Postal Infrastructure through Technological Innovation,’ we’ve witnessed how technology can transform even the most time-honoured institutions, paving the way for a modern, future-ready India.

Winners

Winners for four problem statements were announced during the valedictory.

For the problem statement ‘Measurement and Monitoring of Counter Services’, the first prize was awarded to the team HexTech1 from Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana, for developing a user-friendly AI-powered application to monitor and enhance counter services across India Post, ensuring a seamless customer experience.

For the problem statement ‘Road Transport Network Telematics’, the first prize was awarded to the team Abhyuday from Bansilal Ramnath Agarwal Charitable Trusts Vishwakarama Institute of Technology, Pune , Maharashtra for creating a telematics solution that enables route optimisation, live tracking, and optimal capacity utilisation for long-haul trucking operations across India.

For the problem statement ‘A Digital BRSR Platform for India Post Network’, the first prize was awarded to the team Mini Juris 2.0 from Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, Amethi, Uttar Pradesh, for developing a digital platform to implement the Business Responsibility & Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework, positioning India Post as a leader in environmental and social sustainability.

For the problem statement ‘Bridging the Measurability Gap’, the first prize was awarded to the team Bhoomik from Ajay Kumar Garg Engineering College, Ghaziabad , Uttar Pradesh for designing a digital solution to ensure adherence to validated Citizens Charter norms across all public interfaces of India Post, enhancing service quality and accountability.

Each winning team was awarded a cash prize of one lakh rupees for their innovative contributions, say sources from KCG College of Technology.

Inception

Since its inception in 2017, the Smart India Hackathon has grown exponentially.

SIH 2024 marked the largest edition to date, with over 250 problem statements submitted by 54 Ministries, Departments, State Governments, PSUs, and industries. This year, over 86,000 student teams participated at the institute level, with 49,000 advancing to the national stage.

KCG College’s focus on postal innovation aligned with the Ministry of Communications’ vision for technological advancement and was widely praised for its practical, impactful solutions.

Beacon

Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese, Chairman of Hindustan Group of Institutions, remarked the Smart India Hackathon 2024 at our institution stands tall as a beacon of innovation, inspiring students to turn their ideas into transformative solutions for the nation.

‘This event reaffirms our commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial and technological talent, solidifying our position as a global innovation hub.’

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