In today’s increasingly multipolar world, rising geopolitical tensions are driving fragmentation. In this climate, secure communication networks built on a robust digital infrastructure backbone are more critical than ever. Telcos are reinventing themselves as “digital infracos”, expanding into end-to-end 5G and internet of things (IoT) propositions and business-to-business-to-X platforms; heavily investing in artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI and undersea cable infrastructure; forming partnerships for satellite-based connectivity; and developing data centres to support compute-intensive workloads. Dense optical fibre cable (OFC) networks underpin this shift by providing scalable backhaul, low-latency transport and carrier-grade reliability from core to edge.
OFC as the nervous system
The country’s rate of fibre expansion is more than twice the global growth rate – the market is growing at a CAGR of 13.58 per cent to reach $1.05 billion by 2028, as per estimates by EY. OFC length is expected to grow at a CAGR of 15.7 per cent to 17.95 million route km (rkm) by 2034, from 4.2 million rkm in 2025.
Dense urban regions with a high concentration of large enterprises and significant data centre investment have become hotspots for fibre roll-outs. Mumbai and Pune benefit from extensive industrial zones and a strong data centre presence, with Maharashtra leading the state tally in fibre deployment by rkm. The Delhi-NCR’s compact geography and high population density translate into one of the highest fibre densities per square km. Bengaluru is among the most fibre-intensive cities, supported by a deep IT/IT-enabled services base, a thriving start-up ecosystem and around 100 MW of data centre capacity. Similarly, Chennai has emerged as a major data centre hub, with about 225 MW, backed by government initiatives and large manufacturing and IT services bases.
Several factors are fuelling fibre growth in India, including 5G launches, rising data consumption and the increasing adoption of cloud technologies and digital services. Dark fibre leasing models are also gaining traction as network-as-a-service players scale.
However, certain trends are unique to India, such as the expansion of PSU-owned OFC networks and deeper rural and semi-urban fiberisation through government-led programmes such as BharatNet, PM-WANI, and the Smart Cities Mission. In addition, segments such as data centres, fibre-to-the-x (FTTX) and towers are expected to accelerate fibre deployments. Tower fiberisation is projected to reach 70 per cent by 2025 (EY estimates). Data centre connectivity is a critical enabler for cloud, AI and enterprise workloads, and these hubs rely on fibre for global traffic routing. Further, as per EY, there are over 43 million FTTX connections, driven by the rapid uptake of over-the-top services and remote working.
Yet, despite these advancements, last-mile connectivity remains a major bottleneck, limiting how effectively the latest infrastructure reaches end-users.
Street furniture as the enabler of last-mile connectivity
To overcome high deployment costs and accelerate roll-outs, fibre and small cell deployment is being piggybacked on existing infrastructure. Street furniture is emerging as a critical enabler for scaling fibre and small cell deployments in India’s urban centres. Assets such as lamp posts, traffic signals, bus shelters and signage structures are increasingly being leveraged to host fibre access points, micro-ducts and 5G small cells. By riding on existing urban infrastructure, service providers can avoid extensive trenching and reduce deployment costs and timelines.
As fiberisation requirements intensify with 5G, IoT and edge computing, street furniture is expected to form a vital layer in creating seamless last-mile connectivity across Indian cities.
In-building solutions as the final layer
While fibre deployment across streets and public infrastructure enhances backbone and distribution, most of the data consumption occurs indoors. This makes in-building solutions a decisive factor in ensuring quality of service. Therefore, fibre-to-the-home deployment is being complemented with distributed antenna systems, neutral host networks and passive infrastructure integration within commercial and residential complexes.
With the rise of smart buildings, developers are increasingly embedding fibre ducts, structured cabling and converged information and communication technology systems into new constructions. Policy guidelines mandating in-building readiness are also gaining traction, particularly in metro cities. These solutions not only enhance user experience but also create opportunities for infrastructure sharing among multiple operators. Together, in-building fibre solutions ensure that the benefits of India’s growing OFC backbone extend seamlessly to end-users, supporting bandwidth-intensive applications and smart devices.
In sum
India’s fiberisation journey is no longer just about laying cable – it is about integrating it with urban infrastructure and smart buildings to deliver end-to-end connectivity. As 5G scales and data-intensive applications proliferate, the interplay between OFC backbones, street furniture deployments and in-building solutions will define the quality and reach of digital services. Greater collaboration between telcos, tower companies, real estate developers and municipal bodies, supported by progressive right-of-way policies, will be key to accelerating this convergence. In the coming years, fibre networks will evolve from being mere transport pipes to becoming the foundation of India’s connected economy, enabling ubiquitous, reliable and future-ready digital infrastructure.
