Program: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI)

Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter

On August 4, 2025, Sri Sri University in Bhubaneswar successfully hosted an impactful AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop. This was another successful step in AIORI’s nationwide effort to raise awareness, improve technical skills, and encourage participation in Internet engineering and standards development. The workshop was made better by the presence and support of many institutions from Odisha, including Trident Academy of Technology, Gandhi Institute of Excellent Technocrats, Siksha O Anusandhan University, Ravenshaw University, DRIEMS University Cuttack, Gitam Bhubaneswar, Suddhananda Engineering & Research Centre, the Institute of Professional Studies and Research, GIET Gunupur, Stewart Science College, and Centurion University of Technology and Management. Their participation showed that the region is truly dedicated to fostering technical advancement and making sure that students from all around India feel involved in the country’s fast-paced digital journey.

The Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) program put on this event to continue its main goal of giving academics and students the tools they need to be active participants in the ever-changing global Internet environment. The workshop did a great job of bringing together top technical experts, eager young innovators, and respected academic leaders to help everyone better understand how India can strategically strengthen its technical presence in important global standardisation groups like the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The large number of students and teachers from different departments who showed up showed how committed the university is to promoting technology progress and getting involved in national digital capacity-building projects.

Fundamentals and Future Protocols

Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter) did an excellent job of leading the first technical session, which was a key part of the day. His talk on AIORI and Internet Engineering taught the people who attended the basic rules that govern the structure, basic operation, and necessary security of the internet as a whole. The conversation fully covered the importance of Internet standards, improvements in routing, and basic DNS operations. Mr. Raje’s ability to make complicated subjects, like the process of Request for Comments (RFC) development, very simple made the session quite interesting. This talk sparked a lot of enthusiasm among students to look at research contributions in areas where India has a lot of untapped potential but isn’t well represented in global forums right now.

After this, the workshop smoothly moved on to an interesting session led by Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair–IIFON), who talked about “AIORI Ambassadors” and the inherent significance of student-led technical leadership. He talked about crucial things that would happen at the AIORI 2 Hackathon and made it apparent how young people may become involved in Internet research and be recognised for their work. He stressed how important it is for technical leaders to be curious, work together, and keep growing their skills.

The event went on with important talks that included various stakeholders, showing how AIORI’s statewide project is based on working together. Speakers highlighted the main point that digital growth that lasts can only happen when academia, industry, and the policy ecosystems work together. The MeitY and NIXI parts of the program added even more by talking about national digital governance projects and the country’s attempts to make digital systems more resilient. This guaranteed that the technical knowledge of the participants was in line with the country’s larger digital aims and strategies.

Practical Tools and Global Standardization

Mr. Anand Raje led another high-energy technical session in the afternoon, this time showing the AIORI platform in great detail. He showed off the platform’s technology backbone, specialised research tools, and how advanced Internet operational research can be used in real life. He explained exactly how the platform helps future Internet engineers, protocol designers, and digital infrastructure executives by giving them real-world examples of how networks work and change. The use of 21 AIORI Anchors made the session much more relevant. They allowed institutions across Odisha to feel profoundly engaged in a shared national measuring endeavour. This gesture improved both technical skills and community spirit.

The IETF session came after this practical session. It was an important part of the event that was meant to encourage international participation. People learnt about the systematic way that the IETF shapes the worldwide Internet. The lecture made it very apparent why RFCs are important and how students and academics may get involved by writing drafts and working together in IETF working groups. This part strongly urged people to look at the IETF as a real place where their technological ideas and breakthroughs might have a direct impact on global technologies and standards.

A Commitment to Technical Empowerment

At the end of the workshop, there was a moment for reflection and the official giving out certificates. The Associate Partner of the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter received a special thank you. Our direct involvement, which was always driven by the Internet Society’s goal of encouraging the open development and constructive use of the Internet, was a fundamental reason why the Bhubaneswar workshop went off without a hitch and had a big effect. Our hard effort and support made the event better and showed how dedicated we all are to training the next generation of essential contributors and engineers.

The AIORI Workshop at Sri Sri University successfully continued the program’s principal goal of raising awareness, strengthening technical skills, and creating a strong pipeline of student innovators who are ready and qualified to contribute with national and worldwide Internet standardisation activities. The whole event made it very clear how crucial it is to build an academic ecosystem that is both technically sound and connected to the rest of the world.

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Program: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) Regional Faculty Workshop

Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter

Techno International New Town in Kolkata successfully held a strong and enlightening AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop on August 2, 2025. This event was a big step forward in AIORI’s statewide endeavour to improve people’s understanding of Internet Engineering and raise India’s general digital technical skill level. The school was in the New Town area, which is growing quickly. It was the perfect, modern place for a full day of deep learning, important hands-on experience, and working together. This strongly showed how Kolkata is continuing to grow as a central hub for technological development in eastern India.

Adding to the warmth and collective momentum of the day, institutions from all over Kolkata and nearby areas, such as Kalyani Government Engineering College, Bengal College of Engineering, Techno India University, Future Institute of Engineering, Ramkrishna Mahato Government Engineering College, Seacom Engineering College, NSEC, RCCIT, B. P. Poddar Institute of Management and Technology, NIMAS (George Group of Colleges), the Indian Institute of Hotel Management, Heritage Institute of Technology, MSIT, Techno Main Salt Lake, Calcutta Institute of Technology, and others, showed how committed Bengal’s vibrant academic community is. Their participation, whether direct or indirect, brought people together and showed that the young engineers in the area are really interested in helping India build a digital future.

The very concentrated program started with an inspiring welcome session that stressed how important it is for students to have a strong, practical technical understanding of key digital systems. Speakers underlined that this important technical literacy connects academic learning with the needs of the digital economy and the needs of the industry right now.

Unveiling the Internet’s Hidden Layers

Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter) led the first big session. His talk on AIORI and Internet Engineering gave us a rare and valuable chance to look into the Internet’s complicated architecture in more depth. He clearly described how the Domain Name System (DNS), different routing policies, and independent autonomous networks must all function together without any problems to make sure that people can connect to the Internet.

Mr. Raje strongly stressed the need to improve India’s technical skills and get more involved in global engineering discussions. His talk was really good at getting the students to think about the complicated, systemic engineering problems that will determine the internet’s stability, security, and future growth.

As the workshop moved on to the next session, which was brilliantly led by Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair – IIFON), the energy in the room stayed high. One of the most interesting portions of the day was when he talked about the “AIORI Ambassadors program.” He simply and practically described how students can join AIORI’s national technical network, do well in big hackathons, and be a part of important research projects. His advice gave pupils confidence and encouraged them to see themselves as active participants in India’s larger digital agenda.

Collaborative Ecosystem and National Policy

The event then moved on to a concentrated and very essential discussion about how different groups, such as government agencies, expert technology councils, academic institutions, and industry entities, all have a role in the ongoing construction and maintenance of the digital ecosystem. Students learnt how legislation, engineering techniques, and open collaboration must all work together to create a strong and safe digital infrastructure for the country.

The next session was just as important and focused on the work done by MeitY and NIXI. This part gave students important background information about national-level digital infrastructure projects that aim to make the internet more accessible, make networks more reliable, and make better use of network resources all around the country. This conversation made sure that the kids knew that the technical skills they were learning were helping the country grow.

Hands-On Anchors and Global Engineering

One of the most interactive and highly valued components was the “AIORI Anchors demonstration,” led once again by Mr. Anand Raje. This session successfully brought real-time tools and complex technical demonstrations to the forefront, showing students how AIORI frameworks can be practically used for deep digital analysis, infrastructure modeling, and advanced network monitoring. The hands-on engagement sparked curiosity and creative ideas, especially among students seeking real-world applications for their academic interests. A total of 20 AIORI Anchors were deployed, allowing the Kolkata region to contribute meaningfully to India’s growing measurement footprint and giving participants a heartfelt sense of involvement in something truly national in scale.

The session just for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) was another great chance to learn. The participants learnt how to clearly and systematically use IETF mailing lists, contribute to important working groups, and actively participate in worldwide engineering communities. This made it even more clear how important it is to have open, consensus-driven, and standard-driven engineering methods.

The great concluding session honoured the hard work of all the participants and the teachers who helped them. The Associate Partner, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter, deserves a special and heartfelt thank you. Our deep involvement, always guided by the Internet Society’s aim to promote the open development and constructive use of the Internet, was a key factor in the Kolkata workshop’s great success. Working together made the event’s technical execution much better and made the learning experience for the students that took part much better.

The AIORI Workshop at Techno International New Town was a big step forward since it made sure that students are not just passive users of technology but also knowledgeable and able to help create its future, which will help shape the digital future of the whole country.

10th Regional Faculty Workshop – KOLKATA

Hosted by Techno International New Town on 2 August 2025, this workshop saw the largest attendance with 34 faculty members from 21 engineering institutions. The successful AIORI 2 Ambassador Program included the appointment of three AIORI Ambassadors: Soumen Santra, Sudip Barik, and Jhalak Dutta. Demonstrating their training, the faculty members conducted two national student workshops, greatly enhancing the regional network and marking a strong step toward expanding the AIORI Measurement Network.

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Program: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) Regional Faculty Workshop

Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter

On August 1, 2025, Assam Don Bosco University in Guwahati held a historic event that gave the Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) project a strong and important presence in the northeastern chapter of its National Workshop Series. The event effectively achieved its main goal of improving knowledge in Internet Engineering, encouraging open technical standards, and encouraging AI-driven innovation in an area that is becoming known for its growing pool of technical talent.

Institutions from all over Assam, such as Assam Down Town University, Assam Engineering College, Gauhati University, Scholar’s Institute of Technology and Management, Assam Skill University, Rajiv Gandhi University, Barak Valley Engineering College, Nagaland University, and Girijananda Chowdhury University, added to the warmth and energy of the day. They showed how committed the academic community in the region is. Their presence, whether directly or indirectly, brought people together and reminded everyone that the Northeast is still raising passionate young people who are ready to help India go digital.

This session was an important step in making sure that the Northeast is involved in and benefits from India’s quickly changing digital ecosystem.

The day started with a thoughtful and focused welcome session. The presenters all agreed that students who want to make a real difference in the fast-changing digital sector need to have a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of Internet infrastructure and the larger global ecosystem. This is not just an academic goal. This basic message quickly got everyone on the same page with the event’s main goal.

Engineering Capacity: From Protocols to Pathways

The most important session was the technical speech, which was given by the well-known Mr. Anand Raje, who is the Chair of the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter. His talk on AIORI and Internet Engineering was thought-provoking and full of technical information. It kept everyone in the room interested and helped students understand important basic ideas. He talked about complicated but important issues including how DNS systems work, how routing pathways work, and the bigger architectural architecture that keeps the internet running smoothly all around the world.

Mr. Raje’s strong message stressed how important it is for the country to develop its own technical skills and knowledge, rather than depending just on global infrastructure. His talk was a big turning point for a lot of students. It made them realise how many complicated engineering problems and rewarding chances there are out there that most people don’t see when they go online every day.

After this introductory session, the workshop turned into a lively and exciting discussion led by Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair IIFON) that was all about the “AIORI Ambassadors initiative.” He clearly explained the steps that students can take to get involved in national forums, hackathons, and innovation challenges. He stressed a lot how the hackathon environment is set up on purpose to help people improve their skills and solve real-world problems. This session was quite effective at getting students to take the initiative and be more involved in AIORI’s future technical and community activities.

Stakeholders, Policy, and National Resilience

The workshop then moved into an enlightening section focused on the collaborative role of various stakeholders. This explored how government agencies, specialized research bodies, and academic institutions must work in unison to systematically strengthen India’s overall digital resilience. This reinforced the crucial idea that students and faculty are not merely passive learners of technology but essential contributors to a coordinated national effort.

A particularly insightful session followed, highlighting the strategic efforts of MeitY & NIXI. This exposure helped attendees directly connect the technical elements of Internet Engineering with overarching national priorities and public initiatives, specifically those aimed at expanding internet accessibility and significantly improving routing efficiency across the country. This segment effectively contextualized technical studies within the framework of national development goals.

Anchors, Analytics, and Global Standards

The “AIORI Anchors session,” which was once again guided by Mr. Anand Raje, was one of the day’s clear highlights. This demonstration brought modern technology to life in the classroom by showing off the AIORI measuring framework’s specialised tools, platforms, analytics, and engineering models. People really liked the workshop since it was hands-on, which made sophisticated technical ideas interesting, easy to understand, and directly related to the participants’ schoolwork. As part of this project, 15 AIORI Anchors were put in place, providing the Northeast its own important place in India’s growing observability network and making the students feel like they were making a real difference.

The study continued with an interesting introduction to the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which is the global organisation that sets internet standards. The workshop clearly showed how young professionals can start helping to define global standards and how open, collaborative engineering communities can be useful. This exposure was a key step that pushed students to think about more than just local problems and get involved with the future of the internet around the world.

Empowering the Northeast

The last session praised the hard work and excitement of everyone who took part. The Guwahati workshop is now a great example of AIORI’s mission: to spread deep technical knowledge and specialised Internet Engineering literacy to the talented, growing tech community in the Northeast.

We would like to give a special thank you to the Associate Partner, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter. Our active participation, always guided by the Internet Society’s goal of promoting the open development and constructive usage of the Internet, played a big role in the overall success of the Guwahati workshop. Working together made the event go more smoothly, made the learning experience much better, and had a big effect on the participants’ lives. The whole event strongly supported AIORI’s core premise that there is great technical talent all throughout India and that students from all over the country can and will become strong, capable contributors to the country’s digital future.

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Program: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) Regional Faculty Workshop

Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter

The AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop held at Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology (MBCET) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on July 29, 2025, was one of the most helpful and informative ones yet. This important event helped AIORI achieve its main goals of improving the country’s skills in Internet Engineering, encouraging the use of open standards, and developing expertise in the latest digital technologies. Both students and professors were really excited and involved in the workshop.

Several schools in the area, like Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Kings College of Engineering, St. Joseph’s Institute of Technology, K. Ramakrishnan College of Technology, VIT Chennai, Loyola-ICAM College of Engineering and Technology, Roever Engineering College, Agni College of Technology, Anand Institute of Higher Technology, Panimalar Engineering College, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, M.A.M. College of Engineering and Technology, KCG College of Technology, and M.A.M. School of Engineering, added to the day’s warmth and collaborative energy. These schools reflected the shared academic spirit that surrounds AIORI’s growing network of collaborators. Their participation as a group created a sense of community, unity, and shared purpose that improved the mood and showed how dedicated the area is to digital advancement.

The day started with a strong institutional focus on the importance of training young engineers to not only understand but also actively shape the future of the internet and make sound digital policy. This aligned all participants with the common goal of empowering future innovators in the digital space.

Engineering the Internet’s Foundation

Mr. Anand Raje, Chair of the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter, gave a technically sound and intellectually stimulating talk on “AIORI & Internet Engineering” at the first main session. As soon as he started talking, attendees had a crystal-clear picture of the internet’s underlying structure. Effective domain name system (DNS) management, routing protocol dynamics, internet scalability, and the crucial, growing need for building strong indigenous competence in these fundamental technological domains were all deftly handled by Mr Raje.

Participants were immediately engrossed in the vital field of Internet Infrastructure technologies, thanks to Mr Raje’s talent for breaking down difficult engineering concepts into easily understandable terms.

After this foundational technical session, the workshop moved on to a more interactive session with Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair IIFON) discussing the “AIORI Ambassadors initiative.” National hackathons, focused research sprints, and crucial innovation pushes are just a few of the exciting options he enthusiastically described for students. By giving students experience with real-world technological problems and encouraging them to work together and share what they know, Mr. Agrawal made it clear that the AIORI program is meant to cultivate future leaders.

Collaborative Digital Policy and National Initiatives

The program then moved on to an essential part that focused on how different key stakeholders work together. These include government agencies, specialised research foundations, and technological organisations all working together to improve the country’s digital infrastructure. Students learnt that this kind of collaboration from many different groups is what makes innovation happen. It successfully connects profound technical research with good public policy.

Another very integral part of the program focused on the current work of MeitY and NIXI. This part taught students about important national programs that are working to improve routing systems and bring high-quality, reliable internet access to people all around the country. This talk invited students to think about how broad national digital policies fit together with basic engineering concepts and initiatives to standardise technology, giving them a big picture view of digital governance.

Hands-On Platforms and Global Standards

As the workshop progressed and the momentum built, the audience was introduced to the “AIORI Anchors initiative” through a highly interactive and practical demonstration delivered by Mr. Anand Raje. This highly appreciated session exposed the eager participants to the practical capabilities of AIORI’s specialized technology platforms and tools, allowing them to explore real-time data processing, network simulations, and advanced engineering tools that students could directly leverage in their own academic and research projects. A total of 14 AIORI Anchors were deployed, giving the institution and its students a heartfelt sense of pride in contributing to India’s growing network of collaborative measurement nodes.

The learning momentum continued with an insightful session dedicated to the inner workings of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). The speaker expertly walked the participants through the detailed, consensus-driven process of how global internet standards are formally drafted, rigorously reviewed, technically debated, and ultimately adopted. This segment served as a clear call to action, encouraging students to actively participate in global technical communities and formally begin their journey in standardization-driven engineering.

Reinforcing a Digital Future

The culminating event was the closing session, which featured warm reflections, formal acknowledgments, and the distribution of participation certificates, concluding with strong enthusiasm for future collaborative endeavors. The Trivandrum workshop successfully combined rigorous technical knowledge, crucial governance insight, and essential hands-on demonstration, proving its comprehensive impact.

As an Associate Partner, the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter played a crucial and supportive role in the resounding success of the Trivandrum workshop. Our involvement, consistently guided by the Internet Society’s mission to advance the open development and beneficial use of the Internet, directly enhanced the quality of content delivery, strengthened the logistical execution, and enabled a seamless, high-quality learning environment for every attendee. The successful event powerfully reinforced AIORI’s overarching mission of empowering the next generation of engineers to build and sustain a robust, measurable, and secure digital future for the nation.

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Program: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) Regional Faculty Workshop

Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter

On July 28, 2025, Christ University in Bengaluru hosted the landmark AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop. This was a big step forward in the attempt to improve India’s digital infrastructure and encourage the next generation of technological innovators. The event showed how important it is for everyone to work together to improve the country’s digital infrastructure. It brought together excited students, dedicated academics, and important technology leaders for a whole day of specialized learning, professional conversation, and hands-on lessons about important Internet Standards and network engineering principles. This program showed clearly how committed AIORI is to helping young people and bridging the gap between what they learn in school and the digital problems they face in the real world.

The spirit of the day was even better thanks to the warm participation of schools and colleges from Tamil Nadu and the surrounding area, such as Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Kings College of Engineering, St. Joseph’s Institute of Technology, K. Ramakrishnan College of Technology, VIT Chennai, Loyola-ICAM College of Engineering and Technology, Roever Engineering College, Agni College of Technology, Anand Institute of Higher Technology, Panimalar Engineering College, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, M.A.M. College of Engineering and Technology, KCG College of Technology, and M.A.M. School of Engineering, among others. The fact that they were all there showed that they all wanted to help raise a generation of learners who are ready to help shape India’s digital future. The mood was warm, collaborative, and full of purpose.

There was a clear sense of excitement and energy in the air at the start of the day. The host institution gave a warm welcome and set the tone by talking about how important it is for researchers to work together, how important it is for communities to encourage technology adoption, and how important it is for schools to promote high-quality technical education. By hosting such a high-quality technical event, Christ University proved once again that it is a top place for sharing important knowledge and coming up with new ideas.

The Backbone of the Internet: Engineering and Standards

The first major segment of the workshop was the crucial Technical Session, titled “AIORI & Internet Engineering,” led by the expert Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter). His session offered a deep and insightful dive into the technical backbone of modern internet infrastructure. Mr. Raje masterfully covered critical topics such as DNS operations, the architecture of core network protocols, the design of future-ready network architectures, and the national significance of developing indigenous technological capabilities.

Mr. Raje’s masterful explanation of how AIORI’s various initiatives are actively supporting research, standardization, and capacity-building across the country deeply inspired the audience, compelling them to consider how they could contribute meaningfully to these national efforts.

Following this, the highly engaging session on “AIORI Ambassadors” was delivered by Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair – IIFON). He offered students a unique and actionable perspective on actively participating in national-level hackathons, focused research sprints, and collaborative, community-driven workshops. He strategically positioned students as essential knowledge carriers who can create a tangible impact by promoting awareness about internet standards and fostering open-source collaboration within their own spheres of influence.

A Coordinated National Effort: Governance Meets Engineering

The workshop advanced with a thoughtful and illuminating segment that emphasized the vital, interconnected role that public institutions, technology foundations, and specialized research bodies play in the collective endeavor of building an accessible, efficient, and secure internet for India. This segment served to powerfully reinforce the understanding that true internet engineering is a coordinated national effort, requiring cooperation across multiple sectors.

A key session focused specifically on MeitY and NIXI, highlighting the ongoing national mission to strengthen internet governance and significantly enhance the reliability of nationwide services. This discussion expertly bridged the perceived gap between governance and engineering by offering valuable insight into precisely how policy decisions and technical leadership converge to drive large-scale digital transformation and infrastructure development.

Hands-On Innovation: The AIORI Anchors Program

As the event went on, participants learnt about the AIORI Anchors program, which is another important project that Mr. Anand Raje is very concerned about. This technical demonstration showed how powerful and useful AIORI’s platforms and tools are. It gave students a chance to see for themselves how the AIORI Anchors give researchers and learners access to real-time network data, create their own measurement solutions, and help drive the national digital innovation momentum. There were 23 AIORI Anchors set up, which made the academic community feel like they were part of something much bigger than their own campus: a countrywide endeavour to better comprehend and build the internet.

The next half was all about the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which gave everyone a great basic grasp of how worldwide open standards are officially made, suggested, and debated. Students were strongly encouraged to look into IETF working groups and ways to get involved, making the AIORI workshop a key way to get involved with global internet governance communities and have a say in how the internet changes around the world.

7th Regional Faculty Workshop – BENGALURU

The workshop at Christ University on 28 July 2025 was marked by high participation from 33 faculty members representing 22 engineering institutions. Central to the event was the AIORI 2 Ambassador Program: the region is now championed by three AIORI Ambassadors: Rakoth Kandan Sambandam, Col Jai Govind, and Dr. Manu Elappila. Demonstrating their training, the faculty members utilized their skills to conduct two national student workshops, reinforcing the AIORI Measurement Network.

Paving the Way for a Brighter Digital Future

The highly productive workshop ended with a memorable closing session in which participants expressed their thanks and received certificates. The event met both of its goals: it taught students and teachers about the internet of the future and greatly encouraged them to take active, informed roles in shaping it.

We would like to give a special thank you to the Associate Partner, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter. Our direct involvement, which was based on the Internet Society’s main goal of promoting the open development and useful use of the Internet, was a key factor in the workshop’s success. Our contribution made the event more collaborative and strongly supported the shared national aim of establishing a digitally powerful ecosystem through focused education, ongoing innovation, and community engagement.

The AIORI Workshop at Christ University in Bengaluru is a clear and strong example of what can be done when academia, business, and government work together towards a common, strategic goal. This will help India have a brighter, safer, and more technologically advanced digital future.

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Program: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) Regional Faculty Workshop

Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter

On July 26, 2025, St. Joseph’s College of Engineering in Chennai hosted a day of in-depth technological exchange and forward-thinking conversation. The school was thrilled to host the AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop, which was a big part of the Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) program. The workshop was carefully planned to focus on important parts of the digital world, such as Internet standards, important ways to monitor networks, and the need to improve India’s digital infrastructure. This event successfully brought together faculty, students, and experienced internet experts for a full day of learning and technical demonstrations. It strongly reflected AIORI’s main goal of connecting academic institutions directly with real-world research and national infrastructure projects.

The workshop took place in a collaborative and welcoming setting, thanks to the participation of institutions from all over Chennai, such as Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Kings College of Engineering, K. Ramakrishnan College of Technology, VIT Chennai, Loyola-ICAM College of Engineering and Technology, Roever Engineering College, Agni College of Technology, Anand Institute of Higher Technology, Panimalar Engineering College, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, M.A.M. College of Engineering and Technology, KCG College of Technology, and others who add a lot to the region’s academic and technical fabric. Their participation and continuous support for capacity-building projects gave the day’s conversations a sense of community and shared purpose.

The program gave participants a one-of-a-kind beneficial chance to learn about advanced internet engineering ideas, important governance frameworks, and new, useful ways to measure things.

Building a Robust Digital Foundation

The event began with an opening address that underscored the fundamental significance of a deep understanding of protocols, routing, and standardization for successfully developing and maintaining robust digital infrastructure. Speakers emphasized the importance of active academic participation in national digital projects, positioning the students and faculty as pivotal players in India’s technological advancement.

The first technical session, a foundational component of the day, was led by Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter). He delivered a detailed and illuminating session on AIORI’s mission, clearly explaining the immense significance of systematic internet measurement for both fundamental research and practical performance optimization. Students were introduced to complex yet critical concepts such as latency measurement and the analysis of network resilience.

Mr. Raje then elaborated extensively on the core functionality of the Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors. These purpose-built nodes are strategically deployed at academic institutions across the country to collect continuous, real-time performance data, which then contributes to a unified national observability framework. The session emphasized how even seemingly small devices can play a meaningful role in improving the quality and reliability of India’s internet infrastructure. A total of 24 AIORI Anchors were deployed as part of this initiative, giving students and faculty alike a sense of pride in being part of a nationwide measurement effort.

Mobilizing Talent and Informing Policy

Following the technical deep dive, Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair – IIFON) conducted a focused and inspiring session for AIORI Ambassadors. This segment included a practical hackathon orientation and guidance on student workshop engagement. He clearly explained the various ways students and faculty could actively participate in AIORI initiatives—whether by contributing to technical documentation, joining collaborative research projects, or taking part in national hackathons. This session successfully inspired participants to adopt a proactive approach to learning, seamlessly combining their theoretical technical expertise with critical practical application.

Subsequent sessions provided a vital macro-level perspective, highlighting the involvement of various national stakeholders, including contributions informed by the frameworks of MeitY and NIXI. These discussions illustrated the critical intersection where governance, policy, and research meet technical implementation to collectively build a robust and resilient digital infrastructure. They reinforced the necessity of strong collaboration between academic institutions, government bodies, and dedicated research organizations to achieve national digital goals.

Hands-On Insight and Global Influence

A key highlight that cemented the day’s learning was the technical demonstration of AIORI Anchors by Mr. Anand Raje. Students and faculty were given a clear view of the practical process, observing how the Raspberry Pi nodes are configured to collect real-time network metrics, process the raw data, and subsequently generate accessible insights via the AIORI dashboards. This highly effective demonstration successfully bridged the gap between abstract theoretical knowledge and concrete, real-world implementation, providing immediate context for their studies.

Engagement with global standards was also a crucial component. Mr. Anupam Agrawal led a session on the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which is responsible for the technical standards that define the internet. He explained how students and researchers can participate in these influential international forums, contribute to working groups, and directly influence global internet protocols. The session powerfully highlighted the importance of aligning local academic research with international best practices and standards development.

6th Regional Faculty Workshop – CHENNAI

St. Joseph’s College of Engineering hosted this workshop on 26 July 2025, with 35 faculty members from 20 engineering institutions participating. The successful AIORI 2 Ambassador Program saw A. R. Danila Shirly named the AIORI Ambassador. The trained faculty leveraged their expertise to conduct two national student workshops, reinforcing the AIORI Measurement Network in the region and promoting its growth.

A Commitment to Collaborative Research

The intensive and insightful workshop concluded with a final session and the distribution of certificates, formally recognizing the active participation and dedication of the students and faculty. The event successfully achieved its goal by combining crucial technical knowledge, essential governance insight, and practical, hands-on demonstration.

The deployment of the Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors at St. Joseph’s College of Engineering serves as a powerful, enduring example of how academic institutions can move beyond the classroom to participate in a national-scale observability project, contributing invaluable, real-time data on latency and network performance. The warmth, curiosity, and sincerity with which students engaged throughout the day reflected a genuine eagerness to support India’s digital transformation.

The Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter is very delighted to have helped with the Chennai AIORI Workshop as an Associate Partner. Our active participation, guided by the Internet Society’s objective to promote the open development and beneficial use of the Internet, directly helped spread information, teach technical skills through hands-on experience, and get people involved in important national digital projects. We are very grateful for the leadership of AIORI, IIFON, MeitY, NIXI, and the very dedicated teachers and students at St. Joseph’s College of Engineering. We look forward to maintaining this important partnership to improve the digital environment through meaningful research and strong community involvement.

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On July 24, 2025, Geethanjali College of Engineering and Technology in Hyderabad served as the vibrant host for a highly engaging AIORI Regional Faculty Workshop. In addition to the host institution, faculty and students from several leading engineering colleges across Hyderabad participated, including CVR College of Engineering, Malla Reddy Engineering College, Malla Reddy Engineering College for Women, Muffakham Jah College of Engineering and Technology, ACE Engineering College, G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science, Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, Methodist College of Engineering and Technology, Sphoorthy Engineering College, and Sreenidhi Institute of Science and Technology. Their participation underscored the workshop’s regional impact and the growing academic interest in strengthening India’s digital infrastructure through standardized measurement practices.

The workshop successfully brought together an enthusiastic group of faculty, sharp students, and leading internet experts for an intensive day of collaborative learning and technical demonstration, powerfully showcasing AIORI’s commitment to bridging high-level academic knowledge with high-impact practical research initiatives.

Engineering a Resilient Digital Future

The day commenced with a warm and highly motivating welcome session. The speakers emphasized the critical importance of exposing engineering students to the real-world applications of internet engineering. They directly encouraged participants to move beyond theoretical knowledge and gain a profound understanding of the protocols, routing mechanisms, and governance frameworks that are essential for ensuring a secure, efficient, and resilient internet for the entire nation.

The first essential technical session was expertly led by Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter). He presented an in-depth exploration of AIORI’s mission, clearly highlighting the systemic importance of distributed measurement in accurately diagnosing and optimizing network performance across the country. Mr. Raje introduced students and faculty to core technical concepts such as latency measurement and routing efficiency analysis.

Crucially, Mr. Raje then demonstrated how “Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors” are strategically deployed across academic institutions. These compact measurement nodes collect consistent, high-quality, and actionable data, which then feeds into a national observability framework. A total of 22 AIORI Anchors were deployed as part of this initiative, marking another meaningful step in expanding India’s collaborative measurement efforts. This segment emphasized the profound practical impact of student and faculty participation, illustrating how small-scale, localized measurement devices generate critical insights that ultimately inform national policy and drive infrastructure improvements across the vast Indian landscape.

Mobilizing Ambassadors and Informing Policy

The first essential technical session was expertly led by Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter). He presented an in-depth exploration of AIORI’s mission and highlighted how distributed measurement through Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors is being adopted across academic institutions such as Geethanjali College, CVR College of Engineering, GNITS, and Sphoorthy Engineering College. These anchors collect consistent, high-quality, and actionable data that feed into national observability frameworks, helping inform infrastructure improvements and policy decisions.

Following the technical groundwork, Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair, IIFON) conducted a focused and energizing session centered on the AIORI Ambassadors program, hackathon orientation, and forthcoming student workshops. Students and faculty from participating colleges—including SNIST, CBIT, Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, and Muffakham Jah College—were provided clear pathways to contribute to AIORI initiatives, engage in documentation efforts, and become local ambassadors for internet measurement and standards.

Discussions informed by the frameworks of MeitY and NIXI highlighted the critical interconnectedness of policy, measurement, and standardization across the digital ecosystem. These conversations emphasized how the collaborative participation of colleges across Hyderabad strengthens the broader national mission.

Hands-On Learning and Global Standards

A major highlight of the day was the live technical demonstration of AIORI Anchors, again led by Mr. Anand Raje. Students and faculty—particularly those from institutions deploying or preparing to deploy measurement nodes, such as Geethanjali, CVR, GNITS, Sphoorthy, and the Malla Reddy institutions—observed firsthand how Raspberry Pi nodes collect and process real-time network metrics. This hands-on experience reinforced how theoretical classroom knowledge translates into practical network monitoring workflows.

A subsequent session on engagement with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), conducted by Mr. Anupam Agrawal, introduced students and faculty from all participating universities to global standardization processes. He demonstrated how they can contribute to IETF drafts and working groups, offering a pathway for local engineering talent to influence global protocols.

5th Regional Faculty Workshop – HYDERABAD

The workshop at Geethanjali College of Engineering and Technology on 24 July 2025 attracted 23 faculty members from 11 engineering institutions. The AIORI 2 Ambassador Program was highlighted by the recognition of Sritulasi Adigopula as the AIORI Ambassador for the region. Utilizing their new skills, the trained faculty members successfully conducted two national student workshops, reinforcing the AIORI Measurement Network across the region.

Commitment to the Digital Ecosystem

The workshop concluded with a reflective closing session and certificate distribution ceremony, formally recognizing participants from all attending institutions, including Geethanjali, CVR, GNITS, SNIST, CBIT, Sphoorthy, ACE, Muffakham Jah College, Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, and the Malla Reddy group. The overwhelming enthusiasm underscored the success of AIORI’s mission: to educate future engineers about fundamental Internet Standards and empower them to actively take part in strengthening India’s digital infrastructure.

The strategic deployment of AIORI Anchors at several of these colleges further illustrated the essential role of distributed measurement in reinforcing Internet Standards and governance.

As an Associate Partner, the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter expresses pride in supporting this workshop and in collaborating with institutions across Hyderabad to build a technically empowered next generation of engineers and researchers.

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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.

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Program: Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI)

Associated Partner: Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter

On​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ July 17, 2025, the Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology (RAIT) campus, a premier institute under Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth in Navi Mumbai, was the venue for an event that changed the paradigm. The institution was the host for a workshop organized by the Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) program which was a very detailed and well-thought-out program to considerably upgrade the awareness and technical skill of Internet Standards, measurement practices, and the digital infrastructure. This successful event acted as a vital bridge, connecting academic knowledge with the pressing needs of real-world internet research. It brought together eager students and dedicated faculty with leading experts in the fields of governance, performance measurement, and global standardization. In addition to RAIT, various institutions across Navi Mumbai and the Mumbai metropolitan region—such as Pillai HOC College of Engineering, PHCET, AITKC Panvel, Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai Campus institutions, Sardar Patel Institute of Technology, Don Bosco Institute of Technology, K. J. Somaiya Institute of Technology, LTCE, SIES Nerul, Terna Engineering College, and IIT Bombay—were also part of the wider academic community contributing to the collaborative environment fostered by initiatives like AIORI.

Foundational Understanding: The Internet’s Inner Workings

The whole event started with the reception session which was very congenial and concentrated, and it immediately set the mood by pointing out the core prerequisite of comprehending the network’s base design. The presenters stressed the huge advantage of taking an active part in the research, thus exhorting the students and faculty members that they should not see themselves only as end users but as future primary contributors to the net ecosphere. They further said that this original input from the academic, industrial, and core research communities could be the fruitful result of highly collaborative efforts.

The inaugural program came to a close with the technical talk of a detailed nature by Mr. Anand Raje (Chair, Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter) who took the lead. Mr. Raje gave a very illuminating talk about the core mission of AIORI, pointing out the most fundamental aspect of network measurement doing it very accurately. He explained the different measurements (for instance latency benchmarking, routing analysis, and packet loss monitoring) as the correct methods to point out and ultimately fix the performance of the internet all over the country.

Mr. Raje was next seen staging an elaborate workshop: the “Raspberry Pi–based AIORI Anchors.”

He mentioned them as small, but very efficient, tools for the production of leading-edge correct data. By showing how these little instruments are set up to send data to a national observability platform which is a very important resource for making the right policy and getting the most out of the infrastructure, he convinced the audience. As a result of this action, 25 Pi Anchors in total were set up to create very important measurement points that would facilitate a continuous flow of research and monitoring of performance.

Data-Driven Governance and Community Engagement

After the comprehensive technological exploration, a landmark program was held on the importance of the measurement data topic in the Internet Governance area. The point was made by Mr. Amitabh Singhal in his session that the very basis for wise decisions at the national and institutional levels is the reliable data. Mr. Singhal goes on to say that sticking to international standards and accomplishing the digital policy goals is a matter of strong, far-reaching, and very comprehensive evidence, not just technical analysis, thus, stressing the requirement of thorough measuring.

Later on, Mr. Anupam Agrawal (Chair, IIFON) was seen energizing the room with a MFA session detailing the “AIORI Ambassadors program” and hackathon orientation. This particular meeting had been called to energize the attendees by explaining how students and faculty members could be AIORI active agents, do the national hackathon, research tasks, and so forth. Mr. Agrawal talked about collaboration, innovation, and being ahead of the pack in your documentation and community awareness efforts, henceforth, positioning the attendees as key internet development advocates.

From Theory to Practice: The AIORI Anchor Demonstration

A bit later, Mr. Anand Raje makes a comeback with his practical, on-the-spot, and very well-attended technical session which is a highlight for many attendees. He painstakingly went through the stages—how the setup was done, how it was working, and the actual recording process for the data from the Raspberry Pi measurement nodes. He practically showed the way the information collected here is very quickly brought together, worked on, and finally shown in the AIORI dashboards.

This convincing, very direct session leaves little or no room for doubt, and was the main reason why so many students realized how their active role in a university project can yield a very concrete result, a national-scale infrastructure project, thereby directly linking theory with practice. They got a clear, practical way of their skill proper application in performance enhancement.

Shaping the Global Internet: Engagement with the IETF

Another key technical session focused on engagement with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). Led by Mr. Anupam Agrawal, this session offered crucial insights into global standardization efforts. Mr. Agrawal explained how participants, even from a university setting, can contribute to shaping the protocols that govern the internet worldwide. This segment was instrumental in bridging local academic learning with international best practices and community-driven protocol development, exposing students to the highest level of global internet engineering.

The comprehensive workshop concluded with a reflective closing session and a formal certificate distribution ceremony, providing a sense of closure and acknowledgment for the participants’ active contributions. The enthusiasm demonstrated throughout the day strongly reaffirmed the powerful impact of AIORI’s core mission: to educate young engineers about Internet Standards and to empower them with the tools and knowledge required to take a meaningful part in building India’s robust digital future.

A Partnership for Digital Advancement

The deployment of the AIORI Anchors at RAIT symbolized the tangible, practical application of the knowledge imparted. It provided students with concrete tools to understand complex network behavior and contribute valuable data to a national research-grade framework that directly strengthens internet performance, policy, and accessibility for all.

As an Associate Partner, the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter takes immense and justifiable pride in supporting this forward-looking initiative. Our active involvement, guided by the Internet Society’s global mission to advance the open development, evolution, and use of the Internet, aligns perfectly with AIORI’s strategic goals of fostering technical capacity and open standards participation within India. We sincerely appreciate the leadership of AIORI and the India Internet Foundation, the dedication of the distinguished speakers, and the enthusiastic participation of the faculty and students of Ramrao Adik Institute of Technology for making the workshop a resounding success. This transformative educational experience successfully empowered students to bridge academic learning with real-world measurement, governance, and standardization initiatives, reaffirming our commitment to continuing collaboration with AIORI to strengthen the digital ecosystem through targeted research, sustained innovation, and community-driven participation.

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On July 15, 2025, Bennett University in Greater Noida became a hub for technical innovation and national digital strategy. The university, situated at Plot Nos. 8 and 11 in TechZone 2, was the host of a successful and insightful workshop under the Advanced Internet Operations Research in India (AIORI) program which steers us towards the future. This event served as a critical confluence point, bringing together students, faculty, and leading internet technology experts for an entire day, who dedicated themselves to the profound importance of Internet Standards, sophisticated Internet Measurements, and the rapidly evolving landscape of India’s digital infrastructure. The workshop also reflected the broader academic engagement across the Greater Noida region, with institutions such as Sharda University, Galgotias College of Engineering and Technology, G.L. Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management, Lloyd Group of Institutions, IILM University, Gautam Buddha University, Amity University Greater Noida, Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology, Raj Kumar Goel Institute of Technology, Greater Noida Institute of Technology (GNIOT), JIMS Technical Campus, and others participating in various discussions around the future of India’s digital measurement ecosystem.

Setting the Stage: Beyond Conventional Engineering

The very first event of the intensive day was the inspirational address by the Dean of the School of Engineering at Bennett University. His opening speech was more than just a formality; it was a strong exhortation for students to broaden their minds beyond the established limits of their engineering curriculum. In particular, he went on to say that it is necessary to comprehend the world on deeper levels when we talk about the global internet ecosystem.

The Dean insisted on the utmost necessity of close cooperation of the university with the rest of the world by Internet Engineering. He argued that the most significant innovations of the future will not be the pure software developers’ work but the young professionals who will be knowledgeable and have an insightful understanding of protocols, routing dynamics, governance frameworks, and most importantly, internet measurement techniques. The day was characterized by a very focused and high-level atmosphere which was mostly due to this very inspiring communication.

Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for a Stronger Digital India

The opening session was elegantly succeeded by the inaugural addresses of three eminent personalities, emphasizing the collaborative multi-stakeholder nature of global internet governance: Mr. Anand Raje, Chair of the Internet Society – Kolkata Chapter; Mr. Anupam Agrawal from the India Internet Foundation (IIFON); and Dr. John Jose from the IEEE India Council (IAYPC). Their joint appearance emphasized the urgent need for collaboration among the academic, civil society, and technical communities for the country’s digital infrastructure to become resilient.

Each of them elaborated on the point that the internet is essentially a decentralized system, and thus it is very much dependent on uniform protocols, unvarying measurement, and well-organized governance. They indeed urged the students to digitally immerse themselves as members of the worldwide internet community, participate in the creation of open-source internet standards, and be the first to discover the groundbreaking, network engineering and digital research areas with a high potential of impact.

AIORI’s Core Mission: Building the National Observability Framework

The opening technical session was skillfully led by Mr. Anand Raje. He took the audience on a deep dive into AIORI’s national measurement initiatives and their overall objective. Mr. Raje explained that the Internet is technically operated on different complex layers, which are not visible even to a skilled user. He elaborated that making these live measurements of the network should be the first step if we want to know where the network will be slower or faster in a certain area, in India and also globally. These measurements include latency, routing behavior, DNS resolution speeds, and packet transfer patterns.

The main element of the initiative is the Raspberry Pi-based AIORI Anchors. Thin yet powerful, these nodes are carefully designed to be set up in educational institutions where they can be used as reliable sources to collect critical internet performance data. A total of 23 Pi Anchors were distributed across participating campuses, laying the foundation for a growing network of measurement points that will contribute to national-level observability.

Governance, Policy, and Academia’s Role

The workshop featured several essential sessions highlighting how technical operations intersect with governance and policy.
Ms. Amrita Choudhary, Director of the Cyber Café Association of India (CCAOI), delivered a special session on Internet Governance and the indispensable role of academia. Her lecture unveiled to the students the policy-level obligations that govern the digital ecosystem, elaborating that the internet is controlled through frameworks based on inclusiveness, accessibility, privacy, and data security. She emphasized the essential role of the academic world in not only educating students to become responsible digital citizens but also in providing governance models supported by their research and engagement in public debates.

Following this, Mr. Pradeep Verma, Scientist D at the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), offered valuable insights connecting national digital policy to its technical execution. He helped students understand how government-led initiatives pave the way for a robust and vibrant digital India environment. Mr. Verma highlighted that measurement activities driven by research facilitate better policymaking, allowing decisions to be grounded in evidence and enabling real improvements in the internet infrastructure at both local and national levels.

Routing, Efficiency, and Student Empowerment

A special topic session was delivered by Mr. Abhishek Chaubey from the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI). His talk gave attendees a clear technical understanding of the working of Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), how performance is impacted by efficient domestic traffic routing, and why transparent routing is crucial for India’s digital growth. He also explained how measurement devices and regional benchmarking exercises strengthen local internet ecosystems, making routing more efficient and enabling digital services to scale.

After that, Mr. Anupam Agrawal from IIFON conducted an orientation session for the AIORI Ambassadors program and the forthcoming hackathons. With an engaging style, he emphasized the importance of technical documentation, collaborative engineering, and student-led research, prompting students to transition from being passive consumers to active contributors in the open internet development community.

Practical Deep Dive: The AIORI Anchor Demonstration

One of the major highlights of the day was Mr. Anand Raje’s live demonstration of AIORI Anchors. He illustrated the everyday role that these devices have in network measurements, guiding the audience through data collection, processing, and interpretation stages. Mr. Raje demonstrated the AIORI dashboards in a hands-on manner, showing how raw measurement data becomes actionable intelligence for ISPs, researchers, policymakers, and infrastructure developers.

The session provided students with an opportunity to directly engage with the measurement ecosystem, exposing them to real-world research practices and motivating them to explore new directions within the field of internet measurement.

2nd Regional Faculty Workshop – GREATER NOIDA

Held at Bennett University on 15 July 2025, the workshop engaged 25 faculty members from 13 engineering institutions. The event showcased the successful AIORI 2 Ambassador Program with the appointment of two AIORI Ambassadors: Tejaswi Khanna and Preeti Dubey. These trained faculty members successfully utilized their skills to conduct two national student workshops, significantly expanding the regional AIORI Measurement Network and ensuring continued growth in the area.

A Transformative Conclusion

The workshop ended with a closing session and the presentation of certificates.
The main objective was very evident: to inform young engineers about Internet Standards and empower them to become leaders who would actively participate in building India’s digital future.

The performance of the Raspberry Pis integrated as AIORI Anchors allowed students to contribute data on latency patterns, routing anomalies, domain resolution, and regional connectivity variations. Through this, students did not just learn from the devices—they directly contributed to India’s growing digital measurement landscape.

As an Associate Partner, the Internet Society – India Kolkata Chapter is proud to have supported this meaningful initiative, which aligns with our commitment to fostering digital innovation, technical knowledge, and academic collaboration. We thank AIORI, IIFON leadership, MeitY, NIXI, and Bennett University for creating a collaborative and impactful space where academic excellence meets national purpose.

The AIORI Workshop at Bennett University was a transformative educational experience that successfully inspired young minds, introduced them to the critical roles of measurement and governance, and empowered them to contribute to strengthening India’s digital infrastructure. We are excited to continue this collaboration and support more such initiatives.

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