IEEE Showcases Digital Inclusion Demos at Hulimangala

Bengaluru, 15th November, 2025: Nearly one-third of the world—over 2.6 billion people—remains without internet access, most of them in developing regions. While connectivity has become essential for education, healthcare, banking, and disaster response, millions in remote villages still live beyond its reach.

To address this challenge, the IEEE’s ‘Connecting the Unconnected (CTU)’ global competition invited innovative, scalable solutions from startups, universities, grassroots organizations, and entrepreneurs. The initiative, led by the IEEE Future Networks Technical Community (FNTC) and partners, recognized early-stage projects capable of increasing broadband access in underserved regions.

‘Connect a Community’ Day at Hulimangala

As part of the CTU Challenge’s tangible outcomes, the IEEE Future Networks hosted a ‘Connect a Community’ program at the Hulimangala Gram Panchayat, 30 km from Bengaluru. The full-day event showcased ten breakthrough technologies designed to help Indian villages bridge the digital divide. It also highlighted how previous IEEE Challenge winners have evolved from ideas into sustainable business solutions. The initiative was supported by the IEEE Future Networks Technical Committee (FNTC) and the IEEE Future Directions Initiative (FDI).

“Over 25,000 villages remain unconnected in India. Our Connect a Community effort is about more than infrastructure—it’s about transforming connectivity into empowerment and digital confidence,” said Ashutosh Dutta, Founding Co-Chair, IEEE Future Networks World Forum and FNEM.

Strong Community Participation

Residents from nine nearby villages, alongside technologists, government officials, academia, and students, attended the program.

“These demos spark conversations and empower rural communities to evolve into innovation-driven ecosystems,” added Dutta.

Key Demonstrations & Solutions

1. Amrita University – Wearable IoMT & AI for Health
   A health monitoring wearable that transforms real-time medical tracking.

2. CR Bolo (Community Radio Bolo) – Led by Ritu Srivastava
   Provides access to local audio content without any internet connectivity.

3. Uayki – Educational Content Sharing
   A solution enabling access to academic resources in low-connectivity areas.

4. Multi-provider Internet Resilience Solution – NIT Surathkal
   Ensures uninterrupted connectivity at Gram Panchayats by utilizing multiple providers simultaneously.

5. Internet4All (Basic Internet Foundation) – Presented by Dr. Sudhir Dixit
   Offers free access to essential internet resources and approved digital public goods through a unique Freemium model.

“As an IEEE CTU Challenge 2022 winner, presenting at this platform has been an incredible opportunity to showcase how affordable, indigenous technologies can empower rural India,” said Ritu Srivastava, Director, Jadeite Solutions.

IEEE Future Directions Technology Showcase

IEEE demonstrated its cloud-based 5G/6G Innovation Testbed, an end-to-end network emulator enabling testing and experimentation for next-generation technologies.

“Connect a Community is about taking innovation beyond labs and cities—into regions where it can drive inclusion, collaboration, and sustainable development,” said Rakesh Kumar, Chair, IEEE Future Directions, DataPort.

IIIT-Bangalore  IoT Compost Monitoring

IIIT-B presented an IoT-enabled remote compost monitoring system that measures temperature, humidity, and pH levels. The solution is energy efficient, reduces manual labour, and supports sustainable agriculture.

“Our solution helps optimize composting while reducing waste and manual effort,” explained Prof. Jyotsna Bapat, Principal Investigator.

C-DOT Demonstrates Satellite & Terrestrial Connectivity Innovations

The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) showcased:

• NISHA – Network of Interlinked Satellites for High Availability

• DRISHTI – Directional RIS for connectivity in India’s hilly terrains

“At C-DOT, we aim to ensure connectivity reaches every corner of the nation. Our goals align with IEEE’s mission of technological inclusion,” said Dilip Krishnaswamy, Director, C-DOT.

FNEM Connect: Building the Next Wave of Innovators

Following the community program, the Future Networks Empowerment through Mentorship (FNEM) Connect meeting introduced plans for its 2026 India launch. FNEM offers 1000 days of Learning, Action, Mentorship & Practice (LAMP) to emerging hardware innovators.

“FNEM and Connect a Community bring the One IEEE framework to underserved communities—bridging the digital divide and turning grassroots innovation into sustained growth,” said Ruolin Zhou, UMass, USA, and FNTC Steering Committee Member.