C-DOT Wins UN WSIS Award for Disaster Resilience Technology

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), established on August 24, 1984, by the Government of India, is a premier telecom research and development centre. Its mission is to revolutionize the telecom sector in India by developing cutting-edge technologies and products tailored to Indian conditions.

UN WSIS+20 Award Recognition

At the WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024, held from May 27 to 31 in Geneva, Switzerland, C-DOT received the prestigious ‘Champion’ award under the AI, C-7, E-environment category for its project “Mobile-Enabled Disaster Resilience through Cell Broadcast Emergency Alerting.”

Leveraging Technology for Societal Impact

The UN award recognizes C-DOT’s outstanding contribution towards strengthening the implementation of the WSIS outcomes and highlights its commitment to leveraging technology for societal impact, particularly in the area of disaster management and emergency preparedness.

Cell Broadcast Emergency Alerting Platform

C-DOT has developed an end-to-end mobile-enabled Cell Broadcast Emergency Alerting Platform to deliver real-time messages during emergencies. This innovative solution allows mobile operators to send text messages to users in specific locations through mobile cell towers, effectively disseminating critical information during natural disasters, such as cyclones or earthquakes, or any other emergency situation.

Multilingual Capabilities

One of the key features of C-DOT’s award-winning technology is its capability to send messages in multiple Indian regional languages, ensuring that emergency alerts reach a wider audience, transcending linguistic barriers.

WSIS+20: Reflecting on Digital Cooperation

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024 marked two decades since the Geneva Action Plan 2003, which laid the foundation for global digital cooperation. The summit aimed to build inclusive, development-oriented information and knowledge societies, ensuring that the benefits of the information society are accessible to everyone.

Organizers: ITU, UNESCO, UNCTAD, and UNDP

The WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event is organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

WSIS: Addressing the Digital Divide

The World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) was first proposed by the ITU in 1998 to address issues related to the global digital divide and concerns over the undue dominance of the United States and its companies in controlling the internet. The agenda later expanded to include internet-related public policy issues, leading to the first WSIS in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2003.

C-DOT’s recognition at the WSIS+20 Forum High-Level Event 2024 showcases India’s commitment to leveraging technology for societal benefit and highlights the country’s contributions to addressing global challenges through innovative solutions.