C-DOT Wins SKOCH Award 2025 for Life-Saving Cell Broadcast Disaster Alert System

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) has been honored with the SKOCH Award 2025 for its innovative Cell Broadcast Solution, a technology designed to deliver real-time disaster alerts directly to mobile phones. The award recognizes C-DOT’s role in strengthening India’s emergency communication systems and using indigenous technology to save lives and reduce losses during disasters.

Why in News?

C-DOT has received the SKOCH Award 2025 at the 104th SKOCH Summit. The award was given for its Cell Broadcast Solution, a national disaster and emergency alerting platform.

What Is the Cell Broadcast Solution?

• The Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS) developed by Centre for Development of Telematics is an advanced disaster and emergency alerting platform.
• It enables the delivery of life-saving information to mobile phones in geo-targeted areas through cellular networks.
• Unlike SMS, cell broadcast messages reach all devices in a specific location instantly, even during network congestion, making it highly effective during emergencies.

How the Unified Disaster Alert Platform Works

• C-DOT’s CBS integrates multiple disaster alert generation agencies on a single platform.
• These include the India Meteorological Department for weather alerts, Central Water Commission for floods, INCOIS for tsunamis, DGRE for landslides, and Forest Survey of India for forest fires.
• Alerts are approved by State Disaster Management Authorities and the National Disaster Management Authority, and then broadcast by all mobile operators.

Key Features and Benefits of CBS

• The Cell Broadcast Solution is fully indigenous, automated and cost-effective.
• It supports multi-hazard alerts and delivers messages in 21 Indian languages, ensuring inclusivity.
• The system provides near real-time warnings, helping citizens take timely action.
• By minimising information delays, the platform reduces loss of life and property and improves the overall efficiency of disaster risk reduction and management across the country.

Global Alignment and Strategic Importance

• C-DOT’s solution aligns with the United Nations’ “Early Warnings for All” (#EW4All) initiative and follows the International Telecommunication Union’s Common Alerting Protocol (CAP).
• It also supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by enhancing disaster resilience.
• Importantly, C-DOT has placed India among a select group of global technology providers offering such advanced cell broadcast systems, strengthening the vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

About the SKOCH Award

• The SKOCH Award recognizes outstanding contributions by government and private institutions in governance and development.
• It honours impactful work in areas such as technology, finance, health, education and grassroots innovation.
• Receiving this award highlights C-DOT’s excellence in public-interest technology and citizen-centric digital infrastructure.

About C-DOT

• C-DOT is a premier telecom R&D organization under the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.
• It has played a major role in developing indigenous telecom technologies supporting Digital India and Make in India.
• Currently, C-DOT is working on advanced domains such as 5G, 6G, Quantum technologies, Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity.

Key Summary at a Glance

Question

Q. C-DOT received the SKOCH Award 2025 for which innovation?

A. 5G Core Network
B. Quantum Communication System
C. Cell Broadcast Solution
D. National Telecom Cloud