IIITDM Kurnool Secures National Lead in Department of Telecommunications 5G Rankings
The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing Kurnool achieved the top national rank for its 5G Use Case Lab. The institute received four excellence awards during a high-level review in New Delhi.
Top Honors at Bharat 6G Alliance Review
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has named the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) Kurnool as the premier institution in its 100 5G Use Case Labs evaluation. During a review meeting of the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, the Union Minister for Communications presented the awards to the institute's representatives, Dr. K. Krishna Naik and Dr. K. Nagaraju. This recognition follows a rigorous assessment of the January–June 2026 period.
Dominance Across Four Performance Categories
IIITDM Kurnool outperformed every other institution in the country by securing the first rank across all assessment metrics. The DoT's Gradation Framework measured institutional performance through specific lenses:
- Overall Excellence: General performance and execution of the 5G mandate.
- Foundational Excellence: Strength of the core infrastructure and planning.
- Engagement Excellence: Collaboration and active participation in the ecosystem.
- Innovation Excellence: Novelty and impact of the technical solutions developed.
Interdisciplinary R&D and Infrastructure
Since the inauguration of its lab in 2023, IIITDM Kurnool has utilized a 5G Standalone (SA) Base Station and advanced network equipment to build a robust research environment. Dr. K. Krishna Naik spearheaded the project proposal that initially won the institute this opportunity. This infrastructure supported a multi-departmental effort involving experts from Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Science, Mechanical Engineering, and the Sciences.
This unified approach yielded 18 distinct products spanning various industrial and social sectors. The research team focused on practical applications in several fields:
- Drone technology and robotics
- Smart agriculture and healthcare
- Communication systems and optics
- Education and skill development
Prof. B. S. Murty, Director of IIITDM Kurnool and IIT Hyderabad, stated that the achievement reflects the collective dedication of the faculty and students. He noted that the institute remains committed to developing next-generation technologies to advance national progress.
Source: The Hindu — Home
