Telecom Infrastructure & Need of Strong Fibre Network in India

Syllabus: GS3/Awareness In Fields of IT

Context

• The telecom infrastructure in India remains fragile and suboptimal without deep fibre penetration, as these optical fibre networks form the invisible backbone that determines the efficiency, speed, and scalability of telecom services.

Status of Telecom Infrastructure in India

• India has over 1 billion telecom subscribers, compared to 25.15 crore in 2014, and among the lowest data tariffs globally.
• Broadband connections rose from 6.1 crore in 2014 to 99.56 crore in September, 2025 growing by 1532.13%.
• Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) length increased from 19.35 lakh route km (2019) to 42.36 lakh route km (Sep, 2025).
• Components of telecom infrastructure include mobile towers (passive infrastructure)
  • Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) networks;
  • Spectrum and wireless systems;
  • Data centres and switching networks;

Why Fibre is Critical to Telecom Infrastructure?

• Backbone of 5G and Future Networks: 5G networks require dense deployment of small cells, all of which needs to be connected through high-capacity backhaul, primarily fibre.
  • Fibre provides ultra-low latency and high bandwidth, essential for real-time applications like autonomous vehicles and telemedicine.
  • Wireless backhaul alternatives (e.g., microwave) are insufficient for sustained high data loads.
• Scalability and Reliability: Optical fibre networks offer virtually unlimited capacity upgrades without replacing physical infrastructure.
  • It makes fibre future-proof for 6G and beyond, and ensures network resilience, reducing outages and congestion.
• Economic Multiplier Effects: Robust digital infrastructure boosts productivity, innovation, and GDP growth with economic development and digital inclusion.
  • Fibre networks enable cloud computing, IoT ecosystems, and Industry 4.0 applications.
• Bridging the Digital Divide: Fibre deployment in rural and remote areas is crucial for inclusive growth.
  • BharatNet aims to connect gram panchayats, but progress remains uneven.
  • Fibre-based connectivity ensures equitable access to education, healthcare, and governance services.

Challenges in India’s Fibre Deployment

• Low Fibre Penetration: Fibre penetration in India is only about 30–36% of telecom towers fiberized, compared to 70–80% in advanced economies.
  • Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) emphasizes that optical fibre is the backbone, while wireless is only the access layer.
• High Right-of-Way (RoW) Costs and Delays: Complex permissions and high fees across states delay fibre rollout.
  • Regulatory fragmentation increases project timelines.
• Financial Stress in Telecom Sector: Telecom operators face high debt burdens, limiting capital expenditure on fibre networks.
• Urban-Rural Imbalance: Fibre is concentrated in urban areas, leaving rural regions underserved.

Major Government Initiatives

• BharatNet Programme: It was launched as National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), and later renamed as BharatNet.
  • It aims to connect all Gram Panchayats (~2.5 lakh) with high-speed broadband, and provides middle-mile fibre connectivity.
• National Digital Communications Policy (NDCP), 2018: It primarily targets universal broadband access, fiberization of telecom towers, and creation of the National Broadband Mission.
• National Broadband Mission (NBM), 2019: It primarily targets 50 Mbps connectivity to every citizen, fibre connectivity to all villages, and increases tower fiberization significantly.
• PM Gati Shakti & Infrastructure Integration: It integrates telecom infrastructure planning with roads, railways, and utilities.
• Right of Way (RoW) Reforms: These include measures like:
  • Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules (amended)
  • Time-bound approvals and nominal charges
  • Promotion of online single-window clearance systems;
• Telecommunications Act, 2023: Its key provisions are to simplify infrastructure deployment and RoW permissions, promote ease of doing business in the telecom sector, and support rapid expansion of fibre networks.

Policy and Strategic Imperatives

• Accelerate Fibersization of Towers: Target at least 70% fiberization to support 5G efficiently.
  • Incentivize infrastructure sharing among telecom operators.
• Reform Right-of-Way Policies: Implement uniform, low-cost, and time-bound RoW approvals across states.
  • Promote a single-window clearance system.
• Promote Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Leverage private investment alongside government initiatives like BharatNet.
• Encourage Infrastructure Sharing: Establish common duct infrastructure and open-access fibre networks to reduce duplication and costs.
• Focus on Rural Connectivity: Expand fibre networks to underserved areas to ensure digital inclusion.

Source: BL