Cisco partners with IIT to launch Advanced Networking Research Lab

Cisco Systems Inc, a company dealing in networking for the Internet and IIT, Delhi have announced the launch of the Advanced Networking Research Lab at the institute's premises, supposedly the first of its kind in India. This is a result of the MoU that was signed between Cisco and IIT in April 2000. Cisco will be investing $ 200,000 in sponsoring the lab and will provide training, related training materials and on-going support. 

The 24x7 lab will be a resource center for the faculty and students to conduct research, to obtain hands-on training and for evaluating and demonstrating Cisco's Architecture for Video, Voice and Integrated Data(AVVID) solution. 

Cisco's investment will cover the cost of equipment (routers, high-end gigabit switches, firewalls and a complete VOIP solution--call manager, gateways and VoIP phones), maintenance and fellowships for the MS/PHD students every year. Cisco's commitment to the fellowship program will be for a period of four years initially, after which it will be reviewed again. 

Further, Cisco will also provide internships for qualified students at its Global Development Center in Bangalore. In addition, along with IIT will initiate collaborations for joint research and explore the possibility of sending selected researchers for visits to Cisco facilities in India, US or elsewhere. 

The research will initially focus on Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) networks and in future will include a nation-wide test network to study Quality of Service (QoS) and related issues. This is especially relevant considering the immense Voice over IP (VoIP) opportunities. 

Inaugurating the lab, Prem Jain, VP and GM, New Business Venture, Cisco Systems, said, "India is well recognized now for its qualified technology manpower. By creating this lab, we are giving an opportunity to the best talent to develop solutions for future communication technologies on the IP platform. Cisco will leverage its resources to bring to market world class solutions that are developed at this lab".