Bengaluru: The IEEE Connect a Community initiative brought together breakthrough demonstrations in Hulimangala village, 30 km from Bengaluru, highlighting practical solutions designed to close the digital divide affecting unconnected and underserved regions.
The event was part of the broader IEEE “Connecting the Unconnected (CTU)” challenge, which recognizes pioneering efforts to expand internet access and digital empowerment across remote geographies.
IEEE Connect a Community: Demos Highlight Rural Connectivity Challenges
The IEEE Connect a Community program was organized by the IEEE Future Networks Technical Community (FNTC) and IEEE Future Directions Initiative (FDI) as a day-long event showcasing ten innovative solutions for rural India.
These demos represented tangible outcomes of the global CTU Challenge, which seeks to improve broadband access and usage among communities still outside the digital ecosystem.
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IEEE leaders emphasized that India still has over 25,000 unconnected villages, calling for solutions that go beyond infrastructure to create real, community-centred digital empowerment.
IEEE Connect a Community: Healthcare, Education & Connectivity Solutions Demonstrated
- Amrita University presented a wearable IoMT and AI-driven health monitoring device.
- Jadeite Solutions’ CR Bolo demonstrated how community radio can deliver local information even without internet access.
- Startup Uayki showcased an innovative solution for sharing educational content in rural settings.
- NIT Surathkal demonstrated a multi-provider connectivity system ensuring uninterrupted network access in village panchayats.
Dr Sudhir Dixit from the Basic Internet Foundation showcased Internet4All, based on a freemium model offering free access to non-video content and digital public goods.
Ashutosh Dutta, Founding Co-Chair, IEEE Future Networks World Forum, said that the goal of IEEE Connect a Community is to turn connectivity into empowerment in rural regions by enabling digital confidence and real impact.
Ritu Srivastava, Director at Jadeite Solutions and CTU Challenge 2022 winner, noted that such platforms help innovators showcase affordable, indigenous connectivity models for rural India.
Advanced IoT, Satellite & 5G/6G Testbeds Displayed
- IIIT-Bangalore demonstrated a wireless communication-based IoT compost monitoring system aimed at aiding sustainable agriculture and reducing manual labour.
- C-DOT showcased two indigenous innovations:
- NISHA – Satellite network for high availability
- DRISHTI – Directional RIS technology for hilly terrains
IEEE Future Directions also presented its cloud-based 5G/6G Innovation Testbed for testing and experimentation in next-generation communications.
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FNEM Connect to Support Early-Stage Hardware Innovators
The Future Networks Empowerment through Mentorship (FNEM) Connect meeting followed the IEEE Connect a Community event.
The FNEM program, supported by FNTC and the Lemelson Foundation, is designed to offer 1000 days of Learning, Action, Mentorship, and Practice for hardware innovators, with an India launch planned for 2026.
Ruolin Zhou from the FNTC Steering Committee emphasized that these initiatives promote meaningful connectivity, nurture grassroots innovation, and strengthen digital inclusion in underserved communities.
IEEE is the world’s largest technical professional organization, dedicated to advancing technology for humanity. IEEE Future Directions focuses on emerging technologies and offers resources such as online courses, webinars, white papers, and more. The Lemelson Foundation supports invention-driven solutions to global economic and social challenges.
