ITU Telecom World 2003

October 6, 2003
C-DOT widening its product portfolio

NEW DELHI -- The Center for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) is the government of India's premier telecom technology development center. Its objective is to develop market-oriented telecom technologies and solutions for fixed, mobile, IP and converged networks. While marching on to next-generation networks (NGNs), C-DOT has maintained a significant focus on cost-effective rural and small network solutions as well.

C-DOT's current product portfolio spans digital switching systems, intelligent network solutions, cellular mobile network nodes, narrowband and broadband access network products, VoIP solutions, SDH technologies, optical and satellite communication systems, network management and operations support systems and other telecom software solutions.

C-DOT's digital switching systems, intelligent network systems and rural telecom dominate India's large, fixed telecom network. Around 45,000 switches, 25 million telephone lines and over 6 million mobile and fixed network prepaid users utilise C-DOT technology. Many systems have been exported to over 20 developing countries. This distinction emerges from cost-effectiveness and ruggedness of C-DOT's products as well as comprehensive technology transfer and field support methodology that focuses on long-term relationship with technology recipients and network operators. Some highlights:

• Developed technologies with high ration of concept-to-field-delivery;
• Equipment worth Rs. 8,000 crore has been delivered by C-DOT manufacturers;
• Developed compact switches with new technology components, thereby enhancing the reliability and termination capacity; also, accommodating new features to provide state-of-the-art services;
• Enabled BSNL/MTNL to introduce customer services like intelligent networks, cellular GSM mobile services, complete solutions including billing and customer care, SMS and roaming. The intelligent network systems are deployed in over 200 sites and GSM networks in 13 cities in India;
• Developed network management system that is being deployed by BSNL at 40 sites to enhance high success call rates and decongest crowded routes;
• Rural products have been exported to some of the Asian and African countries by C-DOT manufacturers.

Performance highlights
Within a span of two decades, C-DOT has had many noteworthy successes to its credit. It has developed a wide range of digital switching systems for rural and urban applications. The range extends from 200-line rural automatic exchanges (RAX) to 40,000-line switching systems, meant for urban applications, complete with CCS7 signaling, ISDN, network synchronisation and V5.X capabilities.

The switching systems based on C-DOT technology have a large presence in the Indian telecom network. They account for about 50 percent of the total lines of the fixed network. In terms of exchanges, C-DOT technology enjoys a leadership position of more than 90 percent in the rural network comprising small exchanges. The ability of small switches to work reliably in harsh non-air-conditioned environments makes them particularly attractive for the developing countries.

Opportunities and emerging areas
With India emerging as a hotbed for telecom services, C-DOT is exploring new opportunities to widen its product portfolio. It is currently developing new technologies in the following areas:

• Advanced intelligent network services for fixed, mobile and IP networks;
• Cell and packet switching technologies for voice and data convergence;
• 3G mobile communication solutions;
• Business support systems including network management and operation support systems;
• DWDM-based optical transmission network;
• Ku-/Ka-band satellite-based broadband communication network system;
• Small access and customer premises equipment; and
• Product and field support upgrades.

C-DOT has a large pool of skilled and dedicated young engineers. It has proven design concepts and methodologies, as well as state-of-the-art R&D infrastructure. C-DOT has a pilot production center with SMT facilities. It makes use of CAD tools for PCB design, ICs, microelectronics, thick film hybrids, electronic packaging and other complex hardware, software design development, validation and quality assurance. Some other strengths include, a proven technology transfer methodology; installation and customer support experience; technologies and products - appropriate and relevant to needs and requirements of developing countries; and an ability to provide a full range of telecom solutions.

With its world-class development infrastructure and comprehensive product portfolio, C-DOT offers total telecom solutions for the network operators and service providers worldwide, directly as well as through strategic alliances and partnerships, such as:

• Transfer of technology;
• Joint ventures/co-operation;
• Export of products -- finished, semi-finished, semi-knocked down (SKD), and completely knocked down (CKD);
• Telecom software development;
• Consultancy for setting up manufacturing facility/R&D;
• Turnkey projects;
• Operations and maintenance support;
• Developing customised telecom solutions; and
• Collaborative R&D.