Minister of State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan requests IIT Guwahati to provide support for 5G Communications and other vital technologies

GUWAHATI :  Minister of State for Communications, Government of India, Shri Devusinh Chauhan, visited Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati on 11th October 2021.

After his arrival to IIT Guwahati, the Hon’ble MoS began his interactive tour by visiting the Computer & Communication Centre (CCC) at IIT Guwahati. He was accompanied by the Director of IIT Guwahati, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, Deputy Director Prof. Sashindra K. Kakoty, Interim Registrar Prof. A. Srinivasan and Dean PRBR, Prof. Parameswar K. Iyer.

Hon’ble MoS for Communications was first shown the Supercomputer facility Param-Ishan and its capabilities for multiple scientific, technological, weather forecasting and healthcare applications was demonstrated. Director IIT Guwahati also informed him about the upcoming Supercomputer facility Param-Kamrupa which is being installed at IIT Guwahati presently.

Head CCC, Prof. Ratnajit Bhattacharjee, then made a brief presentation about the communication and network infrastructure, HPC facilities, newly initiated Mehta Family School of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence as well as the activities being carried out in the SAMEER Centre for high power microwave tube and components.

Director IIT Guwahati informed the Minister about IIT Guwahati’s endeavor of promoting cutting edge research activities in emerging areas for the benefit of the country. Senior officials from BSNL, DoT and Program Director In-charge SAMEER IIT Guwahati center were also present.

The MoS then proceeded to inaugurate BSNL EPBAX EXCHANGE & BHARAT FIBRE SERVICES at IIT Guwahati. On his way to the inauguration venue, the MoS also visited the Lakshminath Bezbaroa Central Library – IIT Guwahati, where various aspects of connected library, IT enabled state-of-the art facilities and unique installations were explained. The 24*7 book-return facilities, print and online collection details, remote authentication system, usages of online resources (especially during the COVID pandemic period), activities of the North East Regional Centre of National Digital Library of India, etc. were also shown to the Hon’ble Minister who highly appreciated the facilities and ambiance of the Library.

The Hon’ble MoS, Shri Devusinh also attended a meeting by the Postal Department and initiated new banking accounts for girl child on the occasion of Banking Day which was celebrated as part of the National Postal Week.

Further, a special release of Special Cover on Muga Silk (GI Code: 55) was also organized as part of the event, which is of utmost importance, wherein a special cover was released that will help in spreading the popularity of the Muga Silk and the name of Assam across the nation and globally. Further, the Hon’ble MoS also had an interactive session with all the regional telecommunication officials at IIT Guwahati and deliberated on enhancement of connectivity and services to the region.

Post lunch, the Hon’ble MoS for Communications visited the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering (EEE), where several Ph.D. scholars demonstrated the experimental set-up in the Anechoic Chamber Facility developed for antenna measurement and the Integrated Circuit Measurement Laboratories. Subsequently, the Hon’ble MoS interacted with the faculty members, staff, and students of the EEE department. This discussion was initiated by the Director of IIT Guwahati, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, who spoke about IIT Guwahati and its recent achievements.

Director of IIT Guwahati, Prof. T. G. Sitharam, while welcoming the Hon’ble MoS for Communications highlighted the importance of communication and connectivity in this NE region for its overall economic and social development. He stressed that IIT Guwahati being a knowledge hub can provide technology platforms to deliver best solutions to overcome impeding problems of this region and join hands with the Ministry of Communications to provide solutions to enhance the connectivity, improve telecom infrastructure and provide training to human resources for better management and operations of telecommunications facilities.

IIT Guwahati team, led by Prof. Roy P. Paily, Head, EEE Department and Prof. R. Bhattarchjee presented an overview of 5G related research activities, IC design, fabrication and characterization for 5G millimeter-wave, Multi-user OTFS modulation under heterogeneous user mobilities, Wireless Information and Energy Transfer in a Heterogeneous Network, D2D based vehicular communication and IoT and Edge computing being pursued at the EEE department and the contributions IIT Guwahati can make as well as the strong capability to support futuristic Communication initiatives from the ministry.

Speaking on his maiden visit to IIT Guwahati, Hon’ble MoS for Communications, Shri Devusinh Chauhan expressed his satisfaction on the various advanced research areas being pursued by the EEE department faculty members Guwahati and the massive infrastructure that the institute has developed in frontier areas of communications and other allied areas, that will be huge boon for pursuing research and development in frontier areas of Communications and IT. He stressed developing technology that will be affordable for the masses and has deep penetration in the rural areas as well.

On behalf of the EEE department, Prof. Sitharam handed a project proposal to the Hon’ble MoS, Shri Devusinh Chauhan for setting up a “Center for Excellence in Advanced Communication” at IIT Guwahati to develop specific areas of next-generation communication systems, which will enable the country to take a lead in niche areas of communication technologies. Deputy Director Prof. Sashindra K. Kakoty, Interim Registrar Prof. A. Srinivasan, faculty and staff members of EEE Department attended this interactive meeting which ended with a vote of thanks delivered by Dean, PRBR, Prof. Parameswar K. Iyer.