The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing (IIITDM) Kurnool secured the top position in India in the “100 5G Use Case Labs” ranking by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).
As part of this initiative, Dr. K. Krishna Naik, Associate Professor in the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) at IIITDM Kurnool, developed several innovative 5G use cases and prepared the project proposal on behalf of the institute. Among the proposals submitted by institutions across the country, IIITDM Kurnool’s proposal was ranked first.
The 5G Use Case Lab at IIITDM Kurnool was inaugurated in 2023. Through this initiative, the institute received a state-of-the-art 5G Standalone (SA) Base Station, advanced 5G network equipment, IoT devices, application servers, and other cutting-edge research infrastructure.
Faculty members and students at IIITDM Kurnool jointly developed 18 innovative products. This research initiative brought together faculty members from the Departments of ECE, Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Mechanical Engineering (ME), and Sciences, fostering interdisciplinary research. The team developed several innovative products in areas such as communication systems, drone technology, robotics, optics, smart agriculture, healthcare, education, and skill development.
In recognition of these outstanding achievements, IIITDM Kurnool was declared the Best Performing Institution in India in the “100 5G Use Case Labs Gradation Framework” evaluation conducted for the January–June 2026 assessment period. The institute secured the first rank in all four major evaluation categories that included Overall Excellence, Foundational Excellence, Engagement Excellence, and Innovation Excellence.
The awards were presented on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) during the Bharat 6G Alliance (B6GA) review meeting held in New Delhi by the Union Minister for Communications. Representing IIITDM Kurnool, Dr. K. Krishna Naik, Associate Professor, Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), and Dr. K. Nagaraju, Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), received these prestigious awards on behalf of the institute.
On this occasion, Prof. B. S. Murty, Director of IIITDM Kurnool and Director of IIT Hyderabad, said, “It is a matter of pride that IIITDM Kurnool has emerged as the top institution in the country in the development of 5G use cases. Faculty members from diverse disciplines worked together as a unified team, emphasizing interdisciplinary research. Their efforts resulted in innovative products benefiting sectors such as communications, drones, robotics, optics, agriculture, healthcare, and education. This national recognition reflects the collective dedication of our faculty, researchers, and students. IIITDM Kurnool will continue to lead in developing next-generation technologies that contribute to the nation’s progress.”
Published – July 28, 2026 07:23 pm IST
