IIT Madras Pravartak becomes India's first lab to get approval to test 5G core network

In a first, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) Pravartak Technologies Foundation’s Telecom Security Testing Lab (TSTL) has been authorised by the department of telecommunications, Government of India to test 5G core network function, Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF).

The nod will also test 5G group 1 devices, covering 21 core network function common security requirements, as per the official press release by IIT Madras.

The approval also allows the TSTL lab to conduct security assessments of 5F mobile telecom equipment, enabling rapid deployment of secure and resilient 5G infrastructure across the country.

Explaining about the certification from the government, V Kamakoti, director, IIT Madras, and chairman of IITM Pravartak, said: “This certification reduces our dependency on foreign testing laboratories, thereby strengthening National Security and promoting indigenous technological capabilities.”

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Govt certification brings academia, industry closer

“By bridging academia and industry, the certified TSTL enhances collaborative research and innovation, empowering IIT Madras Pravartak to actively contribute to developing secure telecom solutions tailored specifically to meet India's strategic requirements. This achievement reinforces IIT Madras’ role as a critical hub for pioneering research and underscores our ongoing commitment to bolstering India's sovereignty in telecommunication security,” he added.

It also strengthens India’s capacity for indigenous telecom security testing and reinforces its step towards technological self-reliance, the official press release added.

“The National Centre for Communication Security (NCCS) has been mandated to operationalize the framework of security testing and certification for the telecom/ICT products in India under the scheme called ‘Communication Security Certification Scheme (ComSec)’, which falls under broader ‘Mandatory Testing and Certification of Telecom Equipment (MTCTE)’ rules,” the press release said.

MJ Shankar Raman, CEO, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation, said: “The certification TSTL represents a significant validation of India’s capability in robust and secure telecommunications infrastructure. This is the first lab in India authorised to test 5G core network function - Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), and 5G Group-I Devices, which cover 21 Core Network functions common security requirements.”