Telcos are getting a boost in patent filings for technology they are not yet using.
A consortium of telecom companies, including Reliance Industries and Videocon, filed a joint submission for an IP solution that it says would “improve interoperability and efficiency of the Indian telecom network”.
The group, which includes Reliance and Videotron, has filed a number of patents related to various applications for network solutions.
It also has a proposal for an open-source IP solution called Network Interface Control Protocols (NICPs).
It says that the NICPs would allow for the use of different technologies in a “multi-tiered network”.
“We have a long history of using IP to build innovative applications for telecom networks, such as the National Broadband Network (NBN), the Smart City Project (SMP), and the Telenor Smart Cities Network (TSM),” the submission said.
“In this context, we also feel that a network-based IP solution is essential for improving interoperability, as it would allow telecom operators to implement new technologies and capabilities in a scalable and cost-effective manner.”
The consortium’s submission does not specify how much it expects to save on the cost of developing the NICP.
“The proposed solution is scalable, robust and easy to deploy, making it ideal for large-scale deployments,” it said.
The consortium has already applied for a patent for the Network Interconnectivity Protocol, or NIP, which was granted in January 2017.
The application is expected to be considered for the NIP standard for the next six months, the group said.
