Department of Telecommunications
Ministry of Communications, Government of India
Government department under the Ministry of Communications that lists telecom schemes for startups and MSMEs, including prototyping funding and testing-charge reimbursement.
Department of Telecommunications at a glance
| Part of | Ministry of Communications, Government of India |
|---|---|
| Address | Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashoka Road, New Delhi |
| Programmes | 5 standing programmes |
| Official website | www.dot.gov.in |
Programs by Department of Telecommunications
2 past programs · Filter all programs
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Programs Department of Telecommunications supports
Programs this organisation funds, run by others. · 1 open now · 0 past
Which Department of Telecommunications programme fits you
3 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Program | DPIIT-recognised startups and Udyam-registered MSMEs building telecom or ICT solutions at technology readiness levels 5 to 8. | — | — | — | — |
| Reimbursement of Testing and Certification Charges for Start-ups and Telecom MSEs | Telecom startups and micro and small enterprises that pay for product testing or certification. | — | — | — | — |
| 100 5G Labs Initiative | Startups and MSMEs that need 5G Advanced or 6G test setups. | — | — | — | — |
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at Department of Telecommunications, separate from the funding calls above.
Government schemes and access programmes listed on the DoT website. Each one has its own eligibility, so check the scheme page before you apply.
Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Program
Subsidy or reimbursementFinancial assistance for prototyping, proof-of-concept, validation and pilot deployments of telecom and ICT solutions, run by TCoE India.
Best for: DPIIT-recognised startups and Udyam-registered MSMEs building telecom or ICT solutions at technology readiness levels 5 to 8.
- Grant support for selected startups
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
TDIP is run by Telecom Centres of Excellence India (TCoE India) under the TDIP Scheme. It helps projects take a telecom or ICT solution from prototype to pilot deployment. The assistance covers a share of the approved project cost. The scheme runs over five years, from 2026–27 to 2030–31.
What you get
- Financial assistance for prototyping, proof-of-concept work, validation and pilot deployments
Who can apply
- DPIIT-recognised startups and Udyam-registered MSMEs
- Telecom and ICT solutions at technology readiness levels 5 to 8
How to apply: TCoE India invites applications under the programme.
Reimbursement of Testing and Certification Charges for Start-ups and Telecom MSEs
Subsidy or reimbursementReimburses testing and certification charges for telecom startups and micro and small enterprises, within revenue and funds-raised caps.
Best for: Telecom startups and micro and small enterprises that pay for product testing or certification.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
This scheme reimburses testing and certification charges that telecom startups and micro and small enterprises incur, under mandatory or voluntary testing certification schemes.
What you get
- Reimbursement of testing and certification charges for telecom products
Who can apply
- Start-ups, and micro and small enterprises (MSEs), in telecom
- Start-ups whose annual revenue has not crossed the scheme's cap in any financial year since incorporation, and that have not raised more than the scheme's cap in funds
Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme
Grant schemeSupport for telecom research, development, innovation and commercialisation, launched by the Digital Bharat Nidhi.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) was launched on 1 October 2022 by the Digital Bharat Nidhi, formerly the Universal Service Obligation Fund, under the Ministry of Communications. It promotes indigenous research, development, innovation and commercialisation in the telecom sector.
The scheme page is hosted on the DoT website. The page itself says the Digital Bharat Nidhi launched the fund under the Ministry of Communications, so the DoT listing and the launching body are different things.
100 5G Labs Initiative
PlatformLocal access to 5G Advanced and 6G test setups for startups and MSMEs, through 100 labs the page says are operational.
Best for: Startups and MSMEs that need 5G Advanced or 6G test setups.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The 100 5G Labs initiative gives startups and MSMEs local access to 5G Advanced and 6G test setups, to develop and test new products and solutions. The page says all 100 labs are installed, commissioned and operational.
Who can apply
- Startups and MSMEs
Public Procurement Preference to Make in India (PP-MII) for Telecom Products
Policy benefitA government procurement preference for telecom products made in India, based on the DPIIT PPP-MII Order 2017.
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
DoT applies this preference in government procurement of telecom products. It is based on the DPIIT PPP-MII Order 2017, as amended from time to time.
How to apply to Department of Telecommunications
Choosing a scheme
- A telecom or ICT product at prototype to pilot stage, from a DPIIT-recognised startup or Udyam-registered MSME: look at the TDIP programme.
- A telecom startup or micro or small enterprise that pays for product testing or certification: look at the testing and certification reimbursement.
- Telecom research or commercialisation work: look at the TTDF.
- A need for 5G Advanced or 6G test setups: look at the 100 5G Labs initiative.
Before you apply
- Confirm the current call on the scheme page before you plan around it.
- For the testing and certification reimbursement, keep your annual revenue and total funds raised within the scheme's caps, since they decide eligibility.
About Department of Telecommunications
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is a government department under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India, based at Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashoka Road, New Delhi. Its website lists schemes that telecom startups and micro and small enterprises can use, from prototyping support to reimbursement of testing and certification charges.
How its schemes work
Telecom Centres of Excellence India (TCoE India) runs the Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Program. It gives financial assistance for prototyping, proof-of-concept work, validation and pilot deployments of telecom and ICT solutions at technology readiness levels 5 to 8, and covers a share of the approved project cost. The scheme runs over five years, from 2026–27 to 2030–31, and TCoE India invites applications under it.
A separate scheme reimburses testing and certification charges for telecom startups and micro and small enterprises, under mandatory or voluntary testing certification schemes. Startups must not have crossed a cap on annual revenue in any financial year since incorporation, and must not have raised more than a cap on total funds.
The Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) supports telecom research, development, innovation and commercialisation. Its scheme page is hosted on the DoT website, but the page itself says the Digital Bharat Nidhi, formerly the Universal Service Obligation Fund, launched the fund under the Ministry of Communications on 1 October 2022.
The 100 5G Labs initiative gives startups and MSMEs local access to 5G Advanced and 6G test setups. The page says all 100 labs are installed, commissioned and operational.
DoT also applies a public procurement preference for telecom products made in India. It is based on the DPIIT PPP-MII Order 2017, as amended from time to time.
Who can apply
DPIIT-recognised startups and Udyam-registered MSMEs can apply to TDIP if their solution is telecom or ICT and sits at technology readiness levels 5 to 8. The testing and certification reimbursement is open to startups and micro and small enterprises in telecom, within the revenue and funds limits described above.
Who runs it
DoT sits under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India. The department has designated a nodal division for coordination and administrative matters of TCoE India.
Who they work with
Stage
Sectors
Technology
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Frequently asked questions about Department of Telecommunications
What is Department of Telecommunications?
Department of Telecommunications is a government body based in New Delhi, Delhi.
What does Department of Telecommunications do?
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is a government department under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India, based at Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashoka Road, New Delhi.
Where is Department of Telecommunications located?
Department of Telecommunications is located at Sanchar Bhawan, 20 Ashoka Road, New Delhi.
What programs does Department of Telecommunications run?
Department of Telecommunications runs Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Program, Reimbursement of Testing and Certification Charges for Start-ups and Telecom MSEs, Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme and 100 5G Labs Initiative, among others.
Does Department of Telecommunications provide funding?
Selected startups in some Department of Telecommunications programmes can receive grant support, including Technology Development and Investment Promotion (TDIP) Program. Grant amounts are set per programme and cohort, and selection into a programme does not guarantee a grant — check the programme's own page for current terms.
What sectors does Department of Telecommunications support?
Department of Telecommunications works with startups in Telecommunications, Digital Infrastructure, Connectivity and Spectrum Management.
What stage of startup does Department of Telecommunications support?
Department of Telecommunications supports startups at the Early Revenue and Growth stages.
How do I apply to Department of Telecommunications?
- A telecom or ICT product at prototype to pilot stage, from a DPIIT-recognised startup or Udyam-registered MSME: look at the TDIP programme. - A telecom startup or micro or small enterprise that pays for product testing or certification: look at the testing and certification reimbursement. - Telecom research or commercialisation work: look at the TTDF.
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