Cyient, a leading global technology solutions company, has partnered with IIT Hyderabad (IITH) and WiSig Networks, astartup incubated at IITH, to enable volume production of India’s first architected and designed chip – the KoalaNB-IoTSoC (Narrowband-IoT System-on-Chip).The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between them is aligned with MEITY’s (Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, India) goals of building a vibrant semiconductor design and innovation ecosystem to enable the emergence of India as a global hub for electronics manufacturing and design.

IITH and WiSig developed the Koala chip,andCyient enabled the IC (integratedcircuit) design for this project. Volume production of the NB-IoTSoCincludes the development of a package, production test solution suitedfor volume production, organization of silicon fabrication, volume testingof the IC, and the management of supplying the chip.

NB-IoT is a 5G massive Machine-Type-Communication (MTC) technology, a fast-growing one,that enables low-bit rate IoT applications with long-range and extends devicebattery life up to 10 years. Smart meters, machine-to-machineconnectivity, Industry 4.0, a plethora of sensorconnectivity, assettracking, digital healthcare, and many more applications willbenefit by using this  NB-IoT chip.

Krishna Bodanapu, MD and CEO, Cyient, said, “We are proud to be part of this momentous project that puts India on the map on Semiconductor design innovation.We started with enabling the design of India’s first indigenously developed NB-IoTSoCchip with partners IIT- H and WiSig Networks. We are excited to join hands with them toward commercializingthis 5G chip in the country. I thank these partners and MEITY for their trust in our expertise.”

Prof. B.S. Murty, Director, IITH, said, “I thank DoT and MEITY forenabling the design of anindigenously developed chip to reach the massproduction stage. This is a major milestone in India’s 5G Fabless Chip Design space journey. I am also happy that an IITH incubatedstartupWiSig is partnering with an Indian MNC Cyient that showcasesthe success of translational research by IITH,which is crucial forrealizing an AtmaNirbhar Bharat.”