Computing, IT & AI
C-DOT digital exchanges and rural telephony
1984-1990s CESam Pitroda and C-DOT engineersCentre for Development of Telematics, est. August 1984Delhi
1984
Digital telephone exchanges designed in India for Indian conditions, including small rural exchanges.
- Dated
- 1984–1995
- As scholars put it
- 1984-1990s CE
- Originator
- Sam Pitroda and C-DOT engineers
- Source text
- Centre for Development of Telematics, est. August 1984
- Region
- Delhi
- Discipline
- Computing, IT & AI
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- High
- Verification
- Verified-web
Background
In 1984 Sam Pitroda founded C-DOT, a government telecom research centre, to design digital switches rather than import them. It produced the Rural Automatic Exchange (RAX), a small exchange that worked in heat and dust without air conditioning, and larger exchanges for towns (MAX). C-DOT also set up a base of Indian manufacturers.
Significance
Made it practical to connect small towns and villages, and enabled the public call office (PCO/STD booth) network that gave millions of people their first access to a telephone.
Path to modern innovation
C-DOT now develops 4G/5G, optical (GPON) and satellite equipment.
Global impact
- Spread telephone access across rural India in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Further reading
Related
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-378 on GitHub.