The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has announced plans to develop an integrated Network of around 10,000 kilometers of optic fiber cables (OFC) across India by the fiscal year 2025. The project will be implemented by NHAIs special purpose vehicle, National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), which will create utility corridors along the national highways to develop the OFC infrastructure. The OFC network will provide Internet connectivity to remote regions in India and facilitate the countrys transition to modern Telecommunication technologies such as 5G and 6G. Pilot tracks for the development of digital highways have already been identified by NHAI, with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and Hyderabad-Bangalore corridor included in the plan.
The OFC Infrastructure Development project is already underway, with a goal to complete it within a year. The OFC network will be leased out on a fixed-rate allocation system on an open-for-all basis through a web portal to eligible users. An official OFC allotment policy is being finalised in consultation with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). The development of digital highways in India is expected to expedite the countrys digital transformation and have a catalytic effect on its Growth and development