Jyotiraditya Scindia, Minister of Communications, Government of India, inaugurated a state-of-the-art 5G lab developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) at the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Gauhati University. "India has made remarkable strides in the telecommunications sector, particularly with the successful adoption and nationwide deployment of 5G technology. The Government of India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' vision has facilitated the development of an indigenous 4G/5G stack, currently being implemented in the BSNL network. This accomplishment lays a robust foundation for exploring new 5G use cases and advancing towards 6G technology development," stated the minister. 

Need for Cost-Effective 5G Test Labs

With numerous engineering colleges across the country aspiring to stay abreast of emerging technologies like 5G and 6G, there is a pressing need for cost-effective 5G test lab setups. Such facilities are essential for developing the necessary competencies, fostering innovative 5G applications, and accelerating 6G research and intellectual property generation. Recognising this, C-DOT has developed an affordable 5G solution suitable for deployment in universities and engineering colleges, serving as a 5G testbed setup.

Benefits to Students and Researchers

The newly inaugurated 5G test lab at Gauhati University offers significant advantages to students, researchers, and faculty members, including:

• Gaining practical insights into an end-to-end 5G system.
• Developing a deeper understanding of 3GPP specifications for 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G Core networks.
• Enhancing system capabilities while exploring new 5G use cases and applications.
• Providing a foundation for advanced research and specification development for 6G technologies, enabling intellectual property generation.

Technical Composition of the 5G University Solution

C-DOT's 5G University solution comprises the gNodeB (radio), core network, and IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The gNodeB encompasses Centralised Unit (CU), Distributed Unit (DU), and Radio Unit (RU) functionalities. Additionally, an Element Management System (EMS) is provided for managing and configuring various 5G units of the radio subsystems. A technical manual accompanies the setup, enabling students to configure the system in multiple ways to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the 5G network.

Minister's Vision for the 5G Lab

Minister Scindia emphasised that the 5G use case lab will enhance the country's capability to disseminate education and extend telemedicine and healthcare services to the most remote villages. He expressed strong confidence in the youth leading this transformation, noting that such test labs will be instrumental in driving innovation across various dimensions within the country.