The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), in collaboration with IIT Mandi and IIT Jammu, has announced an ambitious project to develop an innovative “Wideband Spectrum-Sensor ASIC Chip for Enhancing Spectrum Utilization.” The agreement was formalized under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) scheme of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), India.
Key Highlights:
- Project Objective: Develop a reliable wideband spectrum sensing (WSS) algorithm and hardware-friendly designs to improve spectrum efficiency, focusing on utilizing underused spectrum bands to deliver affordable broadband services, especially in rural areas.
- Technology Focus:
- Design of communication algorithms for spectrum sensing over a bandwidth exceeding 2 GHz.
- Development of hardware architectures ensuring short sensing time, high throughput, and enhanced hardware efficiency.
- Creation of a wideband cognitive radio module targeting the 6 GHz satellite band (5.925–7.125 GHz) for better spectrum sensing and communication.
- Implementation Path:
- Initial emulation in field-programmable gate-array (FPGA) environments.
- Transition to application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) for enhanced spectrum efficiency.
- Long-Term Impact: The project aims to bridge the digital divide in India by enabling affordable broadband and mobile services, creating intellectual property in spectrum sensing technology, and advancing India’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” and “Make-In-India” initiatives.
Expert Comments:
Dr. Raj Kumar Upadhyay, CEO of C-DOT, emphasized the importance of indigenous spectrum sensing technologies to meet India’s diverse requirements. Dr. Rahul Shrestha of IIT Mandi and Dr. Rohit B. Chaurasiya of IIT Jammu reaffirmed their commitment to advancing dynamic spectrum access technologies in line with the India Semiconductor Mission.
This collaboration highlights India’s strides in fostering cutting-edge research and innovation in the telecom sector, setting a benchmark for future advancements in spectrum utilization.
