Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme

Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme Latest News

The Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development recently said that as of 10.12.2025, 136 projects amounting to Rs 542.22 crores have been approved under the Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme to different IITs, NITs, MSMEs, startups, and research institutions.

About Telecom Technology Development Fund (TTDF) Scheme

• It is a flagship scheme of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) launched in 2022.
• It aims to fund research and development (R&D) in rural-specific communication technology applications.
• It encourages collaboration among academia, startups, research institutes, and industry stakeholders to drive innovation.
• The scheme provides milestone-based financial assistance to eligible entities, ensuring ease of compliance and adequate funding.
• It supports the development of state-of-the-art telecom solutions in key sectors such as education, agriculture, health, and water management. 
• Funding under the scheme is provided through the Digital Bharat Nidhi (formerly known as the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF)).
  • It facilitates the development, pilot testing, and adoption of new telecom technologies, particularly for deployment in rural and remote areas.
• Eligibility Criteria for TTDF:
  • Domestic Company(ies) with a focus on telecom R&D, Use case development.
  • Startups/MSMEs
  • Academic institutions.
  • R&D institutions, Section 8 companies/societies, Central & State government entities/PSUs/Autonomous Bodies/SPVs/Limited liability partnerships- with a focus on telecom R&D.
  • Collaborative consortium of the above entities.
  • For Pilots: The above entities may partner, inter alia, with PSUs, TSPs, Central/State Government entities, government autonomous bodies, SPVs, etc.
  • For Pilot application: Minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 is required.
• Some exclusions also exist:
  • Domestic companies receiving grants must maintain their ‘Domestic Company’ status for at least two years after project completion.
  • If a foreign investor or foreign Successor-in-Interest acquires a majority stake in the company within two years post-project, they must repay double the grant amount.
  • Expenditures on items like land and buildings are not eligible under the fund.
  • Preference is given to projects with minimum TTRLs, so very early-stage or theoretical research without clear application may be excluded.

Source: PIB

‹ ›