We would surely like to supply cable and equipment to whoever wins BharatNet PPP phase: HFCL

Domestic telecom gear manufacturer HFCL Limited is excited about the next phase of BharatNet with the Government earlier last year having cleared the implementation of PPP model for BharatNet implementation. HFCL expects the total demand for fiber optic cable to be projected at 10 lakh cable Kms once BharatNet is fully implemented in three years timeframe.

“I expect only BharatNet-related market opportunity is going to be more than Rs.60,000 – Rs.70,000 crore,” said Mahendra Nahata, MD, HFCL Limited.

HFCL further has almost finished the Jharkhand project of BharatNet with 1800 villages set to be connected by GPON network wherein 8000 kms of OFC network is being laid out. The company has already finished deployment of 8000 kilometres of OFC network in Punjab and connected 3200 villages by GPON network.

“BharatNet’s next phase is going to come on a PPP basis as I have already explained and whoever becomes the winner, we would surely like to supply cable and equipment and all those kinds of things to them. And this is going to happen in my personal opinion as I said the Government should come up with tenders in the next two, three months if the pandemic things slow down a bit and real implementation should start from the end of the year or the beginning of the next calendar year,” said HFCL MD Mahendra Nahata.

HFCL has also tied-up with C-DOT for transfer of technology for PON variations which includes GPON, XG-PON, NG-PON, and NG-PON-2. The partnership seeks to improve the technology which then would be specifically HFCL’s for development of PON equipment including equipment which includes GPON, XG-PON, NG-PON, all the variations of that. The equipment will be supplied to the players with BharatNet and FTTH presenting a good opportunity.