Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M) has partnered with Nokia Networks to create technology solutions that will enhance broadband connectivity in rural India. Under the three-year partnership, Nokia will fund and provide technological expertise for research at IIT-M’s Centre of Excellence for Wireless Technology (CEWiT).

The project will evaluate options for using unlicensed spectrum to deliver cost-effective, last-mile broad-band connectivity to remote rural communities in India, complementing the government’s National Optical Fibre Network initiative.

The research project aims to bridge the connectivity divide in India by broadening the reach of broadband in rural areas, said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director of IIT Madras.

As part of this research, CEWiT at IIT-M will undertake following measures including verifying the feasibility of using unlicensed spectrum radio access technologiesfor cost-efficient, last-mile broadband connectivity; providing last-mile connectivity from gram panchayats to their respective villages and creating effective low cost rural access solutions based on Wi-Fi technology.

Did You Know???

• Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications and information technology company, founded in 1865.
• Nokia is also a major contributor to the mobile telephony industry, having assisted in development of the GSM and LTE standards, and was, for a period, the largest vendor of mobile phones in the world.
• Nokia’s dominance also extended into the smartphone industry through its Symbian platform, but it was soon overshadowed by the growing dominance of Apple’s iPhone line and Android devices.