Archive · 19 Jan 2026
India Launches Open-Source Private 5G Platform
India has launched a new software called Agartala 0.4.0 that helps companies and schools set up their own private 5G networks.
This means they can have super-fast and secure internet that's better than Wi-Fi.
The project is led by smart people from the Indian Institute of Science and other top schools, and the government is helping fund it.
They've tested it and found it works really well, with internet speeds up to 600 Mbps and very low delay.
Soon, they plan to test it in real places like farms, trains, and schools.
The best part is that anyone can use and improve this software because it's open-source, meaning it's free and shared with everyone.
This is a big step for India to have its own advanced 5G technology.
Agartala 0.4.0 is an open-source software platform for Private 5G networks, launched by the IOS-MCN Consortium led by IISc Bengaluru.
The platform offers faster, more reliable, and secure connectivity than Wi-Fi or public mobile networks, at a lower cost.
Validation tests demonstrated end-to-end latency of under 10 milliseconds and downlink throughput of up to 600 Mbps per gNB.
Pilot deployments are expected to commence in the second half of 2026 across sectors including rural connectivity, railways, disaster management, defence, education, and drone-enabled networks.
Agartala 0.4.0 is publicly available on GitHub, reinforcing IOS-MCN’s commitment to open development and community-driven innovation.
- Who
- Indian Open Source for Mobile Communication Networks (IOS-MCN) Consortium, led by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, along with IIT Delhi and C-DAC.
- What
- Launch of Agartala 0.4.0, an open-source software platform for Private 5G networks.
- When
- January 19, 2024.
- Where
- Bengaluru, India.
- Why
- To enable enterprises and institutions to build and operate their own Private 5G networks, offering faster, more reliable, and secure connectivity than Wi-Fi or public mobile networks, at a lower cost.
- Platform Name
- Agartala 0.4.0
- Consortium
- Indian Open Source for Mobile Communication Networks (IOS-MCN)
- Lead Institution
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru
- Funding Source
- Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India
- End-to-End Latency
- Under 10 milliseconds
- Downlink Throughput
- Up to 600 Mbps per gNB
- Availability
- Publicly available on GitHub
- Expected Pilot Deployments
- Second half of 2026