Scientists at the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Meghalaya and the North Eastern Space Applications Centre (NESAC) have embarked on a joint research project to develop new methods to improve 5G and 6G connectivity in Sohra, the rainiest place on Earth. After shifting to their permanent campus here earlier this year, researchers found themselves “fascinated and occasionally frustrated” by the sheer size of each raindrop that falls over Sohra in the state East Khasi Hills district. “The size and intensity of rainfall here are unlike anywhere else in the world. It disrupts communication signals and challenges existing network models,” said a scientist involved in the project. While groundwork for the project has begun, researchers say it will take time before tangible outcomes emerge.
Once fully underway, the study could pave the way for rain-resilient networks, particularly beneficial for hilly and remote areas where monsoon-induced disruptions are common. Sohra, formerly known as Cherrapunji, remains both a scientific and natural marvel. For the teams at NIT Meghalaya and NESAC, each downpour represents a potential data source for developing technology that can adapt to nature’s extremes. In a separate milestone, NIT Meghalaya has successfully designed and fabricated the state’s first integrated chip (IC) under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s Special Manpower Development Programme (SMDP). Developed by a team led by Dr Prabir Saha, Dr Shubhankar Majumdar and Dr Pradeep Kumar Rathore, along with PhD scholars Geetima Kachari, Parishmita Goswami and Deibaphira Suchiang, the Finite State Machine (FSM) chip was produced at the Semiconductor Laboratory (SCL) foundry using 180-nanometre process technology.
The chip, built to provide precise control in irrigation systems and tensiometers, was presented to Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the SEMICON India 2025 summit, highlighting the role of academic research in advancing India’s semiconductor ambitions. Dr Dandapat said the two initiatives — the rain-impact study and the chip design — show how research institutions in the Northeast are increasingly aligning with national goals of technological innovation. “Our aim is to turn regional challenges into solutions that can serve the entire country,” he added. The NIT team is also developing a second chip designed to study environmental factors influencing plant growth, which could further boost agricultural technology in the region.