The AIORI (Advanced Internet Operations Research in India) initiative addresses this challenge through a measurement-first approach. Instead of focusing solely on infrastructure expansion, AIORI emphasizes analyzing real-time network performance to uncover deeper insights. This perspective aligns closely with global discussions such as the Pulse Internet Measurement Forum held in Jakarta, where experts highlighted the importance of measuring school Internet connectivity to drive meaningful improvements.

Rural connectivity challenges are multi-dimensional. Limited infrastructure, high costs, geographical barriers, and gaps in digital literacy all contribute to the problem. However, one of the most critical gaps is the lack of reliable, ground-level data. Without measurable insights, it becomes difficult to assess network stability, identify congestion patterns, or determine where infrastructure investments are truly needed.

Discussions at the Pulse Internet Measurement Forum reinforced that improving connectivity requires continuous monitoring rather than one-time deployment. AIORI adopts this principle by tracking key performance indicators such as latency, packet loss, bandwidth availability, and uptime. These metrics transform vague assumptions into evidence-based decision-making.

A key strength of AIORI lies in its real-world deployment. The initiative is supported by a growing network of AIORI Anchors distributed across India, 70+numbers of 219  are located in rural and semi-urban areas. Through the platform v2.aiori.in, these anchors function as live monitoring nodes that continuously collect Internet performance data from diverse locations.

Fig: Aiori Dashboard for the Anchor locations

AIORI bridges the gap between research and reality by using anchor nodes to transform real-world rural data into actionable connectivity insights. This data-driven approach ensures that digital inclusion efforts are reliable, measurable, and tailored to the specific needs of underserved communities.

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Operationalizing Internet Resilience:

The Role of Measurement in Strengthening India’s DNS Ecosystem

High Level Thematic Dialogue | ICANN85 Event by NIXI

At ICANN85 in Mumbai, the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) hosted a high-level thematic panel discussion on AIORI (Advanced Internet Operations Research in India), an initiative focused on strengthening India’s Internet resilience through structured measurement and research.

The panel discussion was driven by Anupam Agrawal, who facilitated dialogue among key stakeholders from the government, technical community, and infrastructure operators on the importance of institutionalizing Internet measurement practices in India.

Shri Alkesh Sharma, in his keynote address, emphasized that as the Internet becomes the core national infrastructure supporting governance, finance, healthcare, education, and commerce, resilience must move beyond reactive measures. He highlighted the need for proactive approaches, stating, “Modern Internet infrastructure requires a shift toward anticipation and preparedness.” He further underlined that structured and data-driven Internet measurement frameworks are essential to enable real-time visibility and support evidence-based decision making.

Dr. Devesh Tyagi, CEO of the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), reinforced that strengthening Internet resilience begins with understanding operational realities. He stressed the foundational role of measurement, noting, “One important dimension of strengthening resilience is measurement. To improve what we operate and manage, we must first be able to observe and understand it.” Continuous measurement, he added, helps identify vulnerabilities, improve operational readiness, and guide informed policy decisions.

During the session, Mr. Anand Raje presented on the AIORI initiative, an indigenous Internet measurement and research platform designed to bridge operations, research, and policy. AIORI enables structured observation of network and DNS ecosystem performance through distributed measurement infrastructure, edge measurement devices, and collaborative research initiatives.

He also discussed various initiatives such as L-Root deployments across multiple Indian cities, measurement of DNS traffic distribution patterns, and resilience stress-testing experiments. These highlighted the ongoing efforts of the Government of India, to strengthen resilience through localized measurement capabilities, better understanding regional traffic dynamics, and improving preparedness for disaster scenarios.

The discussion concluded with a shared understanding that institutionalizing Internet measurement work in India is essential for strengthening DNS stability and overall Internet resilience. The AIORI initiative represents a forward-looking effort to build national capability while contributing to global knowledge on Internet operations.

Through continued collaboration among government bodies, technical communities, academia, and global institutions, India is taking meaningful steps toward operationalizing Internet resilience and ensuring a more secure, stable, and measurable digital future.

Presentation

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Strengthening India’s Internet Research Ecosystem Through Academia–Industry Collaboration

The India Internet Foundation (IIFON) proudly announces the inauguration of the Advanced Research Laboratory on Internet Research Network at Chandigarh University, established in collaboration with the AIORI Project and the National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI).

This milestone represents more than the launch of a laboratory. It reflects a strategic step toward strengthening India’s Internet research backbone through a structured academia–industry–standards partnership model. In an era where the Internet forms the foundation of digital governance, economic growth, and national resilience, building indigenous research and operational capability is both timely and essential.

A Strategic Platform for Internet Research

The newly inaugurated laboratory has been designed as a hands-on research and experimentation hub focused on advancing India’s expertise in:

• Internet operations and critical infrastructure
• DNS ecosystem research and resilience mechanisms
• Protocol experimentation aligned with global standards
• Internet measurement and performance analysis
• Next-generation networking technologies

By creating a structured environment for applied research, the laboratory ensures that students and researchers engage directly with real-world Internet infrastructure challenges, fostering practical competence alongside academic rigor.

Alignment with Global Internet Ecosystems

The laboratory’s research vision aligns with global Internet standards and governance ecosystems, including:

• IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force)
• ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers)
• Regional Internet Registries (RIRs)

This alignment ensures that research outcomes contribute meaningfully to international technical discussions and standards development processes, strengthening India’s voice in global Internet engineering forums.

Strengthening Indigenous Measurement & Resilience

A core objective of this collaboration is to enhance India’s indigenous Internet measurement and resilience capabilities. Robust measurement frameworks are fundamental to understanding network behavior, DNS stability, routing efficiency, and infrastructure reliability.

Through AIORI-aligned experimentation and structured research programs, the laboratory will:

• Generate data-driven insights into Internet performance
• Strengthen national resilience initiatives
• Build capacity in critical Internet technologies
• Develop a pipeline of researchers contributing to global standards

Leadership & Institutional Support

• IIFON extends its sincere appreciation to the Chandigarh University leadership for their vision and commitment:
• Dr. Raviraja N Seetharam, Vice Chancellor
• Raghuveer VR, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs)
• Dr. Satbir S Sehgal, Pro-Vice Chancellor (Operations)
• Dr. Sachin Ahuja, Executive Director (UIE)

We also acknowledge the leadership and contributions of Dr. John Jose (IITG) and Dr. Venkatesh Tamarapalli (IITG), along with the faculty members and organizing team whose efforts made this initiative possible.

Representing IIFON at the inauguration, Mr. Anand Raje, CTO and Co-Founder of IIFON, was present to reaffirm the Foundation’s commitment to advancing Internet research, measurement, and standards engagement in India.

Our sincere appreciation also goes to Ruchika Gupta and Navneet Sehgal for their valuable inputs, and to Dr. Navpreet Kaur Walia, Dr. Vikas Wasson, Dr. Puneet Kumar, Tripti Sharma, and Dr. Jasneet Kaur for gracing the occasion with their presence.

A Shared Vision for India’s Internet Future

This collaboration reflects a broader national vision: strengthening India’s Internet engineering capabilities through sustained partnerships between academia, industry, and standards communities.

By fostering applied research, enabling standards participation, and building measurement-driven infrastructure insight, the Advanced Research Laboratory stands as a catalyst for long-term impact.

India’s digital future depends not only on adopting global technologies, but on contributing to their architecture and evolution. Through this initiative, IIFON reaffirms its commitment to building capacity, capability, and meaningful global contributions from India in Internet engineering and operations.

Together, we are shaping a resilient and research-driven Internet ecosystem for the nation.

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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.

The post Bridging the Northeast: AIORI Faculty Workshop Strengthens Internet Engineering at Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati appeared first on AIORI.

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.

The post Bridging Kerala Tech: AIORI Faculty Workshop Elevates Internet Engineering at Mar Baselios College,Trivandrum appeared first on AIORI.

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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