Andhra Pradesh has requested the Government of India to set up a premier institute on the lines of C-DAC and D-DOT for exclusive design and development of the fourth generation (4G) and next-generation networks (NGN) in Hyderabad to meet the requirements of telecommunications industry.

The state government will provide required land and other infrastructure facilities for the new institute, according to state Information Technology and Communications Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah.

In a letter to Union IT and Communications Minister Kapil Sibal on Monday, Lakshmaiah pointed out that the mobile telecom revolution was sweeping the country minimising the digital divide between rural and urban areas.

"With introduction of 3G services for future telecommunications, the need has come for taking up 4G and thinking about NGNs. There is a need for establishing premier telecommunications institutes for design, development and production of 4G and NGN, ICT network and telecom equipment in India. I request you to consider setting up an exclusive design and development of 4G and NGN in Hyderabad," Lakshmaiah said.

Pushing the AP government's case for setting up the institute, the minister stressed that Hyderabad was home to many Central organisations like DRDL, DMRL engaged in design, development and production of defence electronics. Besides, premier electronic production houses like ECIL, Bharat Electronics Limited and Hindustan Machine Tools were also located here.

"Hyderabad is also a hub of IT and ITES companies while the state government is proactive and industry-friendly, encouraging both private and public to set up shop here," Lakshmaiah added.