Maritime News, New Delhi, India : In a significant boost to India’s marine technology ecosystem, the Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India, has signed an agreement with Xalten Systems Pvt. Ltd. for the development of a High-Performance Acoustic Antenna System for Underwater High Data Rate Communication for Video Transmission.
The initiative represents a strategic step toward advancing indigenous capabilities in underwater acoustic communication — a domain critical for marine research, offshore operations, and strategic maritime applications.
Bridging a Critical Technology Gap
The TDB-supported project aims to address a major gap in underwater communication systems by developing next-generation hydrophone array sensor systems capable of enabling reliable, high-bandwidth data transfer — including real-time video transmission — between autonomous underwater platforms.
The project is being undertaken in collaboration with Subnero Pte Ltd, Singapore, bringing together Indian expertise in underwater acoustics and advanced software-defined communication frameworks.
With the rapid deployment of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) for offshore energy, deep-sea exploration, marine research, and defence applications, demand for robust, high-speed underwater communication has grown substantially.
Moving Beyond Legacy Systems
Existing global solutions from established players such as Kongsberg Maritime, Sonardyne, and EvoLogics primarily focus on long-range, low-bandwidth acoustic communication.
The proposed indigenous system seeks to move beyond these legacy architectures by developing:
- Wideband hydrophones
- Megabit-per-second data transfer capability
- Short-range, high-speed multi-platform communication
- Reliable performance in complex underwater environments
The technology will support real-time collaboration, navigation, and coordinated operations among multiple marine robotic systems — including AUV swarms.
Building Scalable Indigenous Manufacturing
Beyond technological innovation, the project also aims to establish scalable manufacturing capabilities within India for advanced acoustic sensors.
This step is expected to:
- Reduce reliance on imported underwater communication technologies
- Strengthen domestic R&D-commercialization pathways
- Enhance India’s competence in marine sensing systems
- Support strategic and commercial maritime sectors
Strengthening the Blue Economy Vision
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajesh Kumar Pathak, Secretary, TDB, emphasized that advanced underwater communication systems are essential for India’s maritime research, offshore infrastructure, and strategic sectors.
The Indo–Singapore collaboration reflects India’s growing emphasis on international technology partnerships while advancing self-reliance in critical ocean technologies.
The project aligns with TDB’s mandate to promote commercialization of indigenous technologies through industry-led research and strategic collaborations.
Strategic Significance
As India expands its footprint in the blue economy, underwater robotics and high-data-rate communication systems are becoming central to:
- Offshore infrastructure monitoring
- Seabed exploration
- Marine scientific research
- Subsea security operations
By supporting next-generation acoustic antenna systems, TDB is enabling India to transition from technology consumer to technology developer in advanced underwater communications.
