DoT Launches 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has unveiled the 5G Innovation Hackathon 2025, a six-month initiative designed to foster the development of groundbreaking 5G solutions that tackle societal and industrial challenges. This program is open to students, startups, and professionals, offering mentorship, funding, and access to over 100 5G Use Case Labs. Participants will have the opportunity to transform their innovative ideas into scalable technologies.
Focus Areas and Support Mechanisms
The hackathon invites participants to submit proposals centered on various 5G applications, including AI-driven network maintenance, IoT solutions, smart health, agriculture, industrial automation, and more. Participants are encouraged to utilize 5G features such as network slicing and Quality of Service (QoS) to address real-world issues. The program offers extensive support, including assistance with intellectual property rights (IPR) filing, enabling participants to commercialize their innovations effectively.
Throughout the hackathon, participants will receive guidance and mentorship to refine their ideas. The initiative aims to develop over 50 scalable 5G prototypes and generate more than 25 patents, strengthening collaboration between academia, industry, and government. This collaborative approach is crucial for fostering innovation and ensuring that the solutions developed are market-ready.
Program Structure and Timeline
The hackathon will unfold in several stages, starting with the Proposal Submission phase, where participants submit their comprehensive ideas. Each institution can recommend up to five proposals for DoT screening, with regional committees selecting the best entries for further evaluation. Following this, the Regional Shortlisting stage will see selected teams receive guidance to enhance their proposals.
The top 25 to 50 teams will advance to the Pragati Phase, where they will receive a seed fund of ₹1,00,000 each to develop their prototypes over three months, from June 15 to September 15, 2025. During this phase, participants will have access to 5G Use Case Labs and testing infrastructure to refine their solutions. The final Evaluation and Showcase stage will occur in late September 2025, where teams will present their prototypes to a Technical Expert Evaluation Committee (TEEC) for assessment based on technical execution, scalability, societal impact, and novelty.
Awards and Recognition
Winners of the hackathon will be announced in October 2025, with the top teams showcasing their innovations at the prestigious India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025. Significant rewards await the winners, including ₹5,00,000 for first place, ₹3,00,000 for the runner-up, and ₹1,50,000 for the second runner-up. Additionally, special mentions will be awarded for the Best Idea and Most Innovative Prototype, each receiving ₹50,000. Ten labs will also receive Certificates of Appreciation for the Best 5G Use Case, along with one Certificate for the Best Idea from an Emerging Institute.
With a budget of ₹1.5 crore, the hackathon aims to support the development of innovative 5G solutions while fostering collaboration among various stakeholders. Key dates include the proposal submission period from March 15 to April 15, 2025, and the announcement of winners on October 1, 2025. The initiative is set to play a vital role in India’s ambition to lead in 5G innovation.
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