NITK offers alternative to mobile network during emergency, links schools and colleges in coastal Karnataka through HAM radio network

The National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NITK) Surathkal has built an emergency communication network using HAM radio across parts of coastal Karnataka to train students on how amateur radio can support basic communication needs during emergencies. 

The network has been developed under a CSR-funded project titled ‘Enabling Multi-disciplinary and Broader Radio Applications for Community Empowerment (EMBRACE)’. The project, implemented at the NITK, combines disaster communication, technical education and community outreach using amateur, or HAM radio, wireless communication system that does not rely on mobile phone networks or internet connectivity.  

The technology, as per the project coordinators, becomes relevant during floods, cyclones or power outages, when conventional communication systems are often disrupted.  

As part of the project, a fully functional amateur radio facility was established on the NITK campus in Surathkal in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka. The facility served as the central hub for training programmes, demonstrations, simulated emergency exercises, and coordination of outreach activities.  

Nodal centres in schools, colleges

To extend the initiative beyond NITK, five HAM radio nodal centres were set up in selected schools and colleges in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Kodagu and Uttara Kannada districts. These centres, as per the institute, were made operational through structured training of students and teachers, supervised by licensed HAM radio operators.

Over time, the institutions began functioning as local learning and practice points for amateur radio and emergency communication. 

HAM units on electric cycles, scooters

The project also developed mobile HAM radio units mounted on electric cycles and electric scooters. These mobile units were designed to explain how communication equipment can be moved into affected areas when regular infrastructure is unavailable. The units were used during training sessions and community demonstrations to explain last-mile communication possibilities during emergencies. 

The EMBRACE project was led by Dr. Pruthviraj Umesh, Associate Professor in the Department of Water Resources and Ocean Engineering and Professor-in-Charge (Transdisciplinary R&D) at NITK, with Dr. Mohit P. Tahiliani, Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Professor-In-Charge of the Central Computing Centre, serving as co-principal investigator.  

Increasing participation of girls

Prof. Umesh said that the project made a conscious effort to increase the participation of girls and young women. “Women-exclusive training sessions and targeted workshops were conducted to address the low representation of women in technical communication fields,” he said, adding that the aim was to encourage confidence, leadership and technical skill development among female students from the school level onwards. 

Training in three languages

To improve accessibility, educational material related to amateur radio and disaster communication was developed in Kannada, English and Hindi. These included video tutorials, printed learning material, and basic laboratory simulation modules to allow institutions to continue using the resources after the project period.