Chennai: Army Training Command (ARTRAC), in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), will establish a 5G Testbed at Military College of Telecommunication at Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, to enable the Army to utilise the latest internet technology for its operational use, especially along its borders.
An MoU towards this collaboration was signed here today by Lt Gen MU Nair, Commandant of the Military College of Telecommunication Engineering, on behalf of the Army Training Command, Shimla, and Prof V. Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, according to a press statement issued here.
This collaboration will give an impetus to induction of systems, devices and equipment using niche technology and use of AI-based algorithms for enhancing capabilities of Indian Armed Forces, it said.
It will also promote collaborative and cooperative research and facilitate exchange of ideas for development of new technology, the statement added.
Under the ambit of the MoU, IIT Madras will provide consultancy, duly supported by research for feasibility studies and prototype development on 5G enabled future communications.
The importance of the partnership was highlighted by Prof. Bhaskar Ramamurthi, ZOHO Chair Professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT Madras, who is heading the 5G Testbed project.
“Latest communication technologies like 5G have a great relevance to the armed forces and it is important for their officers to acquaint themselves with such developments,” he said.
“This project to set up a 5G Testbed at MCTE will enable the students and trainees at the College to become thoroughly familiar with the advanced technologies embedded in the 5G system.
“It is an example of how the 5G Testbed developed with support from DoT to enable Indian companies and start-ups to test their products, can also be successfully leveraged for other productive purposes,” Prof Ramamurthi said.
