A consortium of leading universities in UK and Institutes in India, and companies from both countries, have launched the ‘Next Generation Networks’ project to bring online education, healthcare and early warning natural disaster systems to remote areas in both countries.

Technology such as wireless sensor networks could be used to deliver healthcare where resources are limited and automatically deliver real time data in areas such as pollution and seismic activity.

The project will also examine how existing IT infrastructure like copper cable networks can perform better, how to best set up new optical infrastructure and implement UK broadband technology across India.

The project is part-funded by Research Councils UK and led by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The five-year collaboration will establish a virtual research centre to look for solutions from emerging and existing technologies.

Professor Gerard Parr from the University of Ulster is the lead UK academic on the project and BT is the lead UK company.