Vikash Sharma

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is working on a mega project that envisages the development of around 10,000 km of Optic Fibre Cables (OFC) infrastructure across the country by the financial year 2024-25.

The National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML), a fully owned SPV of NHAI, will implement the network of Digital Highways by developing integrated utility corridors along the National Highways to develop OFC infrastructure, reported PIB.

Currently, 1,367 km on Delhi - Mumbai Expressway and 512 km on Hyderabad - Bangalore Corridor have been identified as pilot routes for the Digital Highway development. The OFC network will help to expedite the rollout of new-age telecom technologies like 5G & 6G thereby providing internet connectivity to remote locations across the country.

The 246 km long Delhi – Dausa – Lalsot section of the Delhi - Mumbai Expressway also features a three-meter-wide dedicated utility corridor used to lay Optical Fibre Cables, which will serve as the backbone for the rollout of the 5G network in the region.

“OFC network will allow direct plug-and-play or ‘Fibre-on-demand’ model for the Telecom / Internet Services. The network will be leased out on a Fixed Price Allotment mechanism on ‘Open for All’ basis through a web portal to eligible users. OFC allotment policy is being finalized in consultation with DoT and TRAI,” the PIB report added.

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