Sarkari Yojana
Telecom Technology Development Fund
About Telecom Technology Development Fund
Developing and commercializing telecommunication technology products demands substantial funding and long gestation periods for R&D, plus the extra effort and resources needed to move from prototype to commercial grade. High-impact deep-tech projects, discussed further below, need even greater funding to build affordable products that can deliver state-of-the-art services to rural India. Recognising this strategic need in telecom, the Government of India offers various financing instruments across its schemes to build a large capital pool for domestic R&D and develop indigenous technologies and solutions. Beyond existing R&D funding mechanisms, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) will also draw on annual collections under the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to fund research and development of technologies, products and services for extending telecom access to rural and remote areas. Starting with funds collected in FY 2021-22, 5% of USOF’s annual collections will be earmarked for telecom sector R&D. Priority will go to commercializing and adopting the resulting telecom technologies and solutions, including through USOF schemes, and to introducing new telecom technologies in rural and remote areas via pilots and trials. Deliverables align with the objectives, scope and activities described above. The Scheme’s impact will be measured by:
1. The number of products, solutions and use cases developed and commercialized, and their market value; 1. The number of entities that received an educational order that led to a full-fledged order; and 1. The number of IPs generated and commercialized.
Scheme Overview
Central Government
Ministry Of Communication
Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)
Business Entity, University / Institution
01 Oct 2022
Scheme Details
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for Telecom Technology Development Fund, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:
The following Indian entities alone are eligible for support from this fund.
Domestic companies focused on telecom R&D and use-case…
Domestic companies focused on telecom R&D and use-case development
Startups/MSMEs
Startups/MSMEs
Academic institutions
Academic institutions
R&D institutions, Section 8 companies/Societies, Central & State…
R&D institutions, Section 8 companies/Societies, Central & State government entities/PSUs/Autonomous Bodies/SPVs/Limited Liability Partnerships focused on telecom research and development
Collaborative consortiums of the above entities
Collaborative consortiums of the above entities
For pilots
For pilots: the above entities may partner with PSUs, TSPs, Central/State Government entities, government autonomous bodies, SPVs, etc.
For pilot applications
For pilot applications: a minimum TRL of 7 is required.
Benefits Provided
Telecom Technology Development Fund provides the following benefits to eligible applicants:
The scheme aims to bridge the digital divide by developing and manufacturing state-of-the-art technologies for rural and remote areas. Among its objectives, it seeks to:
Build technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat),…
Build technology ownership and indigenous manufacturing (Atmanirbhar Bharat), cutting imports and opening export opportunities;
Spread next-generation telecom technologies across rural and remote…
Spread next-generation telecom technologies across rural and remote areas;
Build a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation;
Build a culture of technology co-creation and co-innovation;
Foster an ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, development,…
Foster an ecosystem for research, design, prototyping, development, proof-of-concept testing, IPR creation, field testing, security, certification and manufacturing of telecom products, end-to-end solutions, use cases and pilots, and develop relevant standards for national needs while enabling their adoption by international standardization bodies;
Encourage rural-specific communication technology applications/use cases that serve…
Encourage rural-specific communication technology applications/use cases that serve the day-to-day economic and social needs of rural communities;
Build synergy among academia, research institutes, startups and…
Build synergy among academia, research institutes, startups and industry, for capacity building and ecosystem development, reaching out to build technologies and solutions relevant to rural/remote areas;
Close the gap between R&D and commercialization of…
Close the gap between R&D and commercialization of products and solutions;
Enable wider access to affordable broadband and mobile…
Enable wider access to affordable broadband and mobile services;
Support technology demonstration, product integration, pilots and field…
Support technology demonstration, product integration, pilots and field trials of products and solutions;
Enable technological/business-model innovation in solutions and services using…
Enable technological/business-model innovation in solutions and services using the existing infrastructure of USOF/DoT/GoI-funded projects; or
Commercialize technologies developed under the scheme, with USOF…
Commercialize technologies developed under the scheme, with USOF schemes incorporating provisions to enable the rollout of these indigenously developed and piloted technologies across all their models.
Documents Required
Applicants should keep the following documents ready before starting the application:
Résumés of the applicant and collaborators
Résumés of the applicant and collaborators
Registration certificate of the organization/institute
Registration certificate of the organization/institute
An approval certificate from the applicant's organization/institute, on…
An approval certificate from the applicant's organization/institute, on letterhead, for submitting the Open/Pilot/Chipset Proposal
Annual reports for the last 3 years
Annual reports for the last 3 years
TAN/PAN/CIN of the primary applicant/organization
TAN/PAN/CIN of the primary applicant/organization
Résumés of the applicant team
Résumés of the applicant team
A GANTT/PERT chart
A GANTT/PERT chart
A detailed technical architecture diagram
A detailed technical architecture diagram
A presentation of the proposal
A presentation of the proposal
A declaration document
A declaration document
2022-10-01
How to Apply
Online Application
Applicants can apply for Telecom Technology Development Fund through the online application process outlined below.
Application Process: (Stepwise):
Submit the proposal online at (https://usof.gov.in/en/home)
Submit the proposal online at (https://usof.gov.in/en/home)
The applicant undergoes a screening stage
The applicant undergoes a screening stage
The Technical Evaluation Committee carries out its review…
The Technical Evaluation Committee carries out its review and due diligence
The Administrative Committee reviews and examines the proposal
The Administrative Committee reviews and examines the proposal
The Competent Authority grants final approval
The Competent Authority grants final approval
The proposal is assigned to an Implementation Agency
The proposal is assigned to an Implementation Agency
The Implementing Agency conducts continuous monitoring, and funds…
The Implementing Agency conducts continuous monitoring, and funds are disbursed
Exclusions / Who Is Not Eligible
Exclusions (if any):
1. When an Indian Company receives a grant under the scheme, it is envisaged to retain its status as a ‘Domestic Company’ for a minimum period of two (2) years after completion of the project to enable the percolation of public funded R&D benefits into the ecosystem.
1. If a foreign investor1 or foreign Successor-in-Interest wishes to acquire a majority stake, within the above two-year period, the company can do so, by paying twice the grant principal amount received directly or through a partnership with academia/research institution under the scheme.
Official Application & Website
Verify the latest eligibility, dates and instructions before applying.