TV
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has launched the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, a six-month initiative aimed at fostering advanced 5G-powered solutions to tackle critical societal and industrial challenges.
Open to students, startups, and professionals, the program offers mentorship, funding, and access to over 100 5G Use Case Labs to help participants develop innovative and scalable technologies.
How to Apply: Key Stages
Proposal Submission (March 15 – April 15, 2025): Submit detailed entries via institutions (up to five per institute). Regional committees will shortlist 150–200 teams.
Prototype Development: The top 25–50 teams receive Rs 1 lakh each in seed funding, three months of mentorship, and lab access. IPR filing support is included.
Final Showdown (September 2025): Teams pitch prototypes to a panel of government, academic, and industry experts. Winners are announced in October and showcased at the India Mobile Congress 2025.
Key Areas of Innovation
The hackathon focuses on cutting-edge 5G applications, including:
1. AI-driven network maintenance
2. IoT-enabled solutions
3. 5G broadcasting
4. Smart healthcare
5. Agriculture technology
6. Industrial automation
7. Non-terrestrial networks (NTN)
8. D2M (Direct-to-Mobile) communication
9. V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) connectivity
10. Quantum communication
Participants will leverage 5G technologies such as network slicing, Quality of Service (QoS), and call-flow scenarios to create real-world solutions.
Application Process & Timeline
The hackathon consists of three key stages:
Proposal Submission (March 15-April 15, 2025): Institutions can recommend up to five proposals. Regional committees will select the best entries.
Regional Shortlisting (May-August 2025): Around 150-200 teams will refine their ideas with mentorship and funding. The top 25-50 teams will receive Rs 1,00,000 each to develop prototypes.
Evaluation & Showcase (September 2025): Teams will present their prototypes to a panel of experts, with winners announced in October 2025 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025.
Prizes & Recognition
Winner: Rs 5,00,000
First Runner-up: Rs 3,00,000
Second Runner-up: Rs 1,50,000
Special Mentions: Rs 50,000 each for Best Idea and Most Innovative Prototype
10 Labs: Certificates for Best 5G Use Case
Emerging Institute Recognition: One institution will be honored for the Best Idea.
ALSO READ: OPSC announces Odisha Judicial Service 2023 results; women candidates outperform
Key Dates
Proposal Deadline: April 15, 2025
Final Evaluation: September 2025
Winner Announcement: October 1, 2025
Backed by a Rs 1.5 crore budget, the initiative aims to develop 50+ scalable prototypes, generate 25+ patents, and strengthen collaboration between academia, industry, and government. The 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025 is set to drive India's leadership in 5G-driven solutions, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in technology.
