Shillong

The Centre has established a 5G laboratory at the National Institute of Technology Meghalaya in the East Khasi Hills district as part of a nationwide initiative by the Department of Telecommunications to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems, officials said on Monday.

With this addition, eight such laboratories have now been set up across the northeastern region to accelerate the development of next-generation telecom technologies, according to an official statement.

The labs will offer students and researchers hands-on exposure to advanced systems, including 5G networks, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), edge computing and other emerging digital applications.

Officials said the new facility is expected to play a crucial role in skill development, research, and the creation of technology-driven solutions tailored to regional requirements.

The initiative aligns with the Centre’s Digital India and Atmanirbhar Bharat visions, which aim to build domestic capabilities in advanced communication technologies while increasing youth participation in cutting-edge research.

Applications developed through these laboratories are expected to support key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, smart infrastructure and disaster management—areas considered vital for the development of Meghalaya.

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Officials added that the 5G lab at NIT Meghalaya is also likely to foster stronger collaboration between academia and industry, enabling experimentation with real-world 5G use cases and promoting innovation-led growth in the state.