Fibre rollout pace jumps 6-fold since 5G launch; still trails target, global markets
optical fibre in the country has increased six-fold since the launch of 5G services last October to 101, 550 kilometers a month from the average 16, 712 kms in the lead up to the roll out of services based on the next gen technology.
Despite this, fibre penetration to telecom towers, which is critical for effective 5G services, in India is 38.44%, significantly lagging the 70% tower fiberisation target set by the government and lower than developed markets where 5G has been launched, experts said.
“The 5G rollout has had a significant impact on the pace of digital and telecom infrastructure development in India,” TR Dua, director general, Digital Infrastructure Providers Association of India (DIPA) told ET.
The total length of optical fibre laid out as on June 30, 2023 was 3,726,577 kms, as compared to 2,812,627 kms as on September 2022 end, according to data provided by DIPA.
While tower fiberisation has picked up pace since the rollout of 5G, industry executives are in consensus that fibre penetration needs to ramp up significantly to be able to reap the full benefits of 5G services.
Tower fiberisation is critical to 5G services as it helps provide full utilisation of network capacity and carry large amounts of data once 5G services are rolled out.
“With growing data demand and emerging technologies like Industry 4.0, constant network expansion and robust 5G connectivity will be crucial, presenting a significant opportunity for (companies like) Indus Towers,” Prachur Shah, managing director and chief executive, Indus Towers, India’s largest tower company, said.
Before 5G rollout, fibre penetration was at around 35% and has now moved to around 38.44% according to data provided by DIPA.
In comparison, other 5G markets
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