Location: Poornima Institute of Engineering & Technology (PIET), Jaipur
Organizers: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) initiative
Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter
On July 14, 2025, the Poornima Institute of Engineering & Technology (PIET) in Jaipur seemed to be alive with an unmistakable buzz of excitement and inquisitiveness. This was not a day of regular classes but of a specialized, high-impact regional faculty workshop organised under the Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) initiative. Faculty and students from several leading Jaipur institutions—including MNIT Jaipur, Poornima University, SKIT Jaipur, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, Manipal University Jaipur, Jagannath University, RIET Jaipur, the University of Technology Jaipur, and Poornima College of Engineering—gathered with a shared purpose: to strengthen their understanding of internet architecture and its globally governed standards.
The aims of the workshop were to equip students and faculty with deep insights into the internet’s layered structure, the crucial role of well-established standards, and the performance measurement practices essential for securing and building a digitally superior future for India.
Laying the Foundation: The Imperative of Deep Understanding
The day’s workshop began with an address by Dr. Dinesh Goyal, Director of PIET, who stressed that textbook learning alone is insufficient in today’s hyperconnected environment. He emphasised the importance of understanding the “nuts and bolts” of the internet—its standards, regulatory frameworks, and the monitoring mechanisms that keep it reliable—so that young engineers are capable of building the dependable digital infrastructure required for India’s rapid technological and economic growth.
The Global Standards Ecosystem: Insights from a Veteran
Following Dr. Goyal, the audience heard from global internet governance expert Mr. Suresh Krishnan, who joined virtually. He discussed the evolution of the internet’s standards, illustrating how bodies like the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), working alongside Indian entities such as MeitY and NIXI, ensure seamless and trustworthy data transfer across the world. His message was clear: the internet is a constantly evolving system, and India’s young engineers must take an active role in shaping its future.
AIORI’s Mission: The “Health Check” for India’s Internet
A particularly compelling segment came from Mr. Anand Raje, Chair of the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter and senior leader at the India Internet Foundation (IIFON). He outlined AIORI’s mission of creating a continuous, scientific “health check” system for India’s internet infrastructure by monitoring latency, packet loss, and region-specific performance bottlenecks.
He also announced one of the workshop’s most anticipated developments: the distribution of Raspberry Pi–based measurement devices, known as Pi Anchors. A total of 31 Pi Anchors were allocated to faculties from participating institutions, enabling professors across campuses such as PIET, MNIT Jaipur, Poornima University, SKIT, Suresh Gyan Vihar University, and others to set up localized “internet weather stations.” These devices will allow AIORI to build India’s first democratised, large-scale, geographically distributed network measurement initiative.
Through this, colleges were not merely learning about internet infrastructure—they were becoming active contributors to a nation-wide research grid.
Engaging the Future Builders: The AIORI Ambassadors Program
The momentum continued with Mr. Anupam Agrawal, Chair of IIFON, who introduced the AIORI Ambassadors Program. He highlighted upcoming hackathons, open-source development opportunities, and collaboration platforms that position students as researchers and co-creators rather than passive recipients of knowledge. The enthusiasm in the hall made it clear that participants across the Jaipur academic community were eager to step into this role.
A National Perspective: Aligning Education with Digital India Goals
Officials from MeitY and NIXI added a national policy perspective, explaining how detailed internet measurements directly support India’s broader digital transformation objectives. They underscored that such initiatives are not just academic exercises but vital components of building a secure, resilient, and future-ready digital ecosystem.
Conclusion and the Path Forward
The Regional Faculty Workshop ended on an optimistic note, with participants expressing a renewed sense of purpose. Certificates were distributed and heartfelt acknowledgments were extended to the speakers, volunteers besides PIET for hosting the event seamlessly.
One message resonated throughout the day – without a strong command of internet standards and measurement methodologies, India cannot advance confidently into its digital future. The active involvement of numerous Jaipur institutions – multiple of which featured prominently plus repeatedly in participation records – underscored the region’s commitment to strengthening India’s internet research capacity.
The Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter expressed pride in supporting this significant initiative. The workshop bridged theoretical learning with real world challenges and demonstrated how collaborative and distributed efforts enhance India’s digital resilience. With AIORI’s ongoing initiatives, the future of research driven internet development in India looks brighter than ever.
