An Indian-developed 5G technology has taken an important step towards the market, with WiSig Networks opening commercial orders for its Made-in-India 5G radio. The development marks the successful progression of a research effort, supported by IIITB COMET Foundation, in IIIT – Bangalore, from the laboratory to commercial product development. Bulk supplies are expected to begin in 2027.
The significance of this development lies in what it means for India’s ambitions in telecommunications. Advanced 5G equipment has traditionally involved dependence on technology developed outside the country. The new radio demonstrates that Indian research institutions and technology companies can work together to develop sophisticated communication equipment within the country.
In simple terms, the technology helps mobile networks transmit and receive data more efficiently. It uses multiple antennas working together to handle several signals simultaneously. This can help improve network capacity, performance and coverage, all of which are important as the use of mobile data continues to grow.
The technology builds on research in advanced wireless communication led by Prof. Kiran Kuchi at IIT Hyderabad and the research was supported by IIITB COMET Foundation under the Department of Science and Technology’s National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).
The technology has been licensed to WiSig Networks, an Indian deep-tech company founded at IIT Hyderabad. The company first showcased the 5G radio at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in March 2026 and subsequently opened commercial orders at the India Mobile Congress held in New Delhi in October 2026.
Prof. Debabrata Das, Chairman of the Governing Body of IIITB COMET Foundation and Director of IIIT-Bangalore, said, “This is precisely the kind of outcome that research funding should aim to achieve. It is encouraging to see research undertaken at an academic institution, with support from IIITB COMET Foundation, progress towards a product that has the potential for commercial deployment. The collaboration between academia and industry is critical if India is to build its own capabilities in emerging technologies.”
Sridhar Pillalamarri, CEO of IIITB COMET Foundation, said, “The real value of research is also reflected in its ability to address practical needs. This development is a good example of how research support, technology transfer and industry participation can come together to take an indigenous innovation closer to the market. We hope to see more such outcomes from the research initiatives supported by the Foundation.”
The development reflects the broader objective of IIITB COMET Foundation: to encourage research that can find applications beyond academic settings and contribute to India’s technology ecosystem. Established at IIIT-Bangalore under the Department of Science and Technology’s NM-ICPS programme, the Foundation focuses on advanced communication systems, including indigenous technologies for 5G and next-generation networks.
For India, the opening of commercial orders is an encouraging milestone. It shows that home-grown research can move beyond publications and prototypes to products that industry is prepared to take to the market.
