Also, with over 12 lakh transmission towers as against 5 lakh telecom towers, utility networks can ensure that there is no need to build new telecom tower sites. 109 lakh of transmission/distribution ckt km and this network covers every nook and corner of the country. Maharashtra already has a statewide ring OPGW infrastructure which has proved its mettle in so many years and a similar model can be easily replicated in other states too. Utility networks can provide a plug and play network to Telcos, thereby reducing their time-to-market as well as saving cost on account of securing RoWs. Using the existing infrastructure of utilities, we can reduce Telecom’s financial burden by mitigating investment on infrastructure. Power utilities have Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) fiber network, which runs at the top of the transmission towers to provide earthing and reliable data connectivity. Power Utilities – A game changer in the Telecom Industry In these uncertain times, it has become more critical than ever for governments, businesses, and industries to come together and support Telecom in every possible way.

On this backdrop, It is quite challenging for the telecom operators to invest in creating more fiber infrastructure for increasing the existing capacity and reach. The Telecom sector is already under financial stress due to the debt and AGR dues. While increasing capacity is the need of the hour, providing reliable data connectivity is also important for telecom service providers. And now, the pandemic has pushed the case of getting these fiber numbers pretty quickly to fulfill the data demand. Also, the National Digital Communications policy 2018 emphasizes on increasing the fiberization of telecom towers from the current 30% to 60%. The current National Broadband Mission, which was announced before the pandemic in 2019, acknowledges the need to increase the present fiber route length from 22 lakh km to 50 lakh km. This higher consumption of data demands higher bandwidth, which has put a strain on India’s lacking fiber infrastructure. Telecom regulators expect to increase the average monthly per-user data consumption by 15% in the next six months from the current 10.37 GB. It has successfully enabled 30-35% of the GDP in the lockdown out of over 54% of the total services sector contribution.Ĭellular Operators Association of India reported that consumers of mobile and home broadband services, especially those in urban areas, have seen their network speeds slow down by around 20% during the pandemic because of an up to 30% surge in consumption on average, especially of videos. Since the lockdown was announced in March 2020, our telecom industry has worked relentlessly to fulfill our demand for increased data connectivity. Everybody must be having a reliable internet connection to ensure their utmost efficiency, and telecommunications services have the onus of serving the invisible force behind this to happen.

With the shift to take everything online, our homes are transformed into remote offices, virtual conference rooms, online schools for children, and video streaming hubs for the entertainment of family members. Telecommunication services – Now one of the necessities Our data consumption has grown and home Wi-Fi networks are operating at enterprise levels, we need higher network capacities to keep business continuity in these uncertain times as there has been a surge in data consumption. We rely on telecom services to connect with our loved ones to know about their well being, and at the same time, we run our banking, e-commerce, and other crucial public services. During the lockdown, telecommunications has emerged as a lifeline to everyone. Although this works out to be the best way to keep ourselves safe, businesses have suffered humongous losses with plants and offices shut down. Social distancing with staying at home has been our strategy to control the spread of COVID-19. The world is seeking a sense of normalcy now, and telecom is facilitating this ‘new normal’ by playing a vital role in keeping people connected and entertained. The menace of COVID-19 has presented unprecedented challenges to individuals, governments, and businesses across the world.

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