Location: Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research, Pune
Program: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) Regional Faculty Workshop
Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter
On July 18, 2025, the academic environment at the Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR) in Pune was charged with purpose and innovation. The institution proudly hosted an engaging AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop, a crucial component of the Advanced Internet Operations Research in India program. The workshop was specifically designed to significantly build both theoretical awareness and practical understanding of essential Internet Standards, crucial network measurement practices, and the continuously evolving framework of India’s digital infrastructure. The event successfully brought together a dedicated cohort of faculty, bright students, and leading internet technology experts to explore technical, governance, and research perspectives, powerfully highlighting AIORI’s commitment to forging direct links between academic learning and real-world infrastructure initiatives. The workshop also resonated within the broader academic community of Pune, with institutions such as MIT Academy of Engineering, MIT ADT University, Fergusson College, Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, G. H. Raisoni College of Engineering, Tata Consultancy Services’ educational collaborators, and the Centre for Information Technology contributing to the region’s strong culture of collective learning and digital participation.
The Power of Protocol Knowledge
The dynamic workshop commenced with a welcoming address that immediately centered on the importance of exposing students to the practical, implementation-level aspects of internet engineering. The speakers strongly encouraged participants to deeply consider how a thorough knowledge of protocols and standardization could strategically position them as future, active contributors to the national digital infrastructure. This involvement, it was stressed, could take the form of engaging in research that directly impacts both the performance and the long-term reliability of the internet ecosystem.
The first technical session was an in-depth exploration led by Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter). Mr. Raje detailed the core mission of AIORI, delving into critical technical aspects such as latency measurement and the analysis of network resilience. He highlighted the immense significance of deploying distributed measurement nodes, specifically introducing the innovative “Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors.”
These compact, yet powerful, devices are strategically deployed across participating institutions to collect continuous, actionable network performance data. Mr. Raje meticulously explained how these anchors feed into a national-level observability framework, enabling researchers, policymakers, and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to accurately analyze network behavior. He emphasized the profound impact that even small-scale devices can have, generating data with wide-ranging national implications, thereby encouraging both faculty and students to actively participate in this groundbreaking project. A total of 12 AIORI Anchors were deployed as part of this initiative, marking another meaningful step in expanding India’s collaborative measurement efforts.
Ambassadors, Governance, and National Strategy
Following the technical session, Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair – IIFON) led a session dedicated to the AIORI Ambassadors Program. He outlined clear opportunities for students and faculty to engage in collaborative research projects and actively participate in hackathons designed to foster innovative solutions for measurement challenges. This was a direct call to action, encouraging proactive involvement in documenting findings and contributing to community-driven awareness campaigns.
The workshop also included vital discussions on stakeholder roles and their necessary contributions, highlighting the policy and technical frameworks supported by national bodies like the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). These sessions clearly illustrated the critical interplay between policy, governance, and underlying technology, showing participants how the data collected from the AIORI network directly informs high-level decision-making and strategically strengthens national internet standards.
Hands-On Implementation and Global Engagement
In a subsequent, highly anticipated technical session, Mr. Anand Raje provided a practical demonstration of the AIORI Anchors’ functionality. He walked participants through the intricate process of data collection, processing, and visualization using the AIORI dashboards. This hands-on segment was crucial, powerfully reinforcing the direct and tangible link between abstract academic knowledge and concrete, real-world implementation. Participants gained first-hand insight into how their involvement could generate actionable intelligence for infrastructure developers.
The workshop further included an important session on engagement with international standards organizations, particularly the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force). Participants learned how they could actively contribute to these global forums, thereby helping to shape the fundamental internet protocols that govern the worldwide web. This session successfully encouraged the application of technical skills beyond national boundaries, linking local academic research to global best practices.
4th Regional Faculty Workshop – PUNE
The AIORI regional workshop at Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research on 18 July 2025 saw enthusiastic participation from 21 faculty members across 8 engineering institutions. A key highlight was the AIORI 2 Ambassador Program: the region is now represented by Bhagyashree Thorat, the AIORI Ambassador. The trained faculty utilized their new knowledge to conduct two national student workshops, strengthening the AIORI Measurement Network and marking a strong step toward its expansion across the region.
Affirming Commitment to a Measurable Future
The comprehensive workshop concluded with a reflective closing session and a formal certificate distribution ceremony, acknowledging the notable enthusiasm and active participation of all students and faculty. The pervasive sense of purpose throughout the day reaffirmed the lasting impact of AIORI’s core mission: to effectively educate a new generation of engineers about Internet Standards and empower them with the practical tools required to actively participate in building India’s reliable digital future.
The strategic deployment of AIORI Anchors at the institute symbolized a practical, enduring commitment to knowledge and measurement. These anchors now contribute valuable data to AIORI’s nationwide observability network, actively strengthening internet performance, policy, and accessibility through a national research-grade framework.
As an Associate Partner, the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter takes immense pride in supporting this forward-looking initiative. Our active involvement, guided by the Internet Society’s mission to advance the open development and use of the Internet, helped to seamlessly facilitate crucial knowledge sharing, promote hands-on technical engagement, and directly support the broader objective of building a more measurable and efficient internet ecosystem for the nation. We sincerely appreciate the leadership of AIORI, IIFON, the support from MeitY and NIXI, and the commitment demonstrated by the faculty and students of Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research. This transformative educational experience successfully empowered participants to bridge academic learning with vital real-world measurement, governance, and standardization initiatives, firmly affirming our commitment to continuing this essential collaboration to strengthen the digital ecosystem through research, innovation, and dedicated community-driven participation.
