These days, thanks to optical fiber cables, we have better internet than before.
Optical fiber cables, also known as OFC, allow light to travel quickly from one place to another, which gives us faster internet compared to traditional carbon cables.
Now, the Department of Telecommunications (DOT) is planning to improve internet speed even further by setting new standards for telecom companies and internet service providers.
This means they will establish new guidelines for optical fiber cables to enhance speed.
Currently, internet services often suffer disruptions due to ongoing construction projects and the poor quality of optical fiber cables.
Telecom companies and ISPs sometimes take a long time to fix damaged cables, or the cables get damaged due to their low quality.
This not only causes problems for customers but also results in financial losses for telecom companies.
To address this issue, the DOT is working on creating new standards for optical fiber cables. These new-generation cables are designed to be more durable and easier to repair.
The Telecommunication Engineering Center (TEC) under the DOT is working on these guidelines, which may soon be issued to companies.
The need for cable replacement every 3 years is also being recognized. Currently, there are around 2,600 internet service providers in India, but the quality of the OFCs they use is often subpar.
These cables typically have a lifespan of about three years, after which they need to be replaced.
India mainly uses legacy variants like G652D fiber, which can lose signal strength when bent or twisted, affecting network speed.
The Digital Infrastructure Providers Association (DIPA) reports that as of June 30, there were 3.73 million kilometers of optical fiber deployed in the country, up from 2.8 million kilometers in September 2022.
The rollout of 5G is driving an average monthly increase of 1,01,550 kilometers in fiber deployment.
