Atmanirbhar Bharat: HFCL supplies 1 lakh indigenous Wi-Fi systems

100,000 Wi-Fi systems indigenously designed, developed, and manufactured by HFCL Limited, (previously known as Himachal Futuristic Communications) were delivered in record time. The company acknowledges that Wi-Fi Access Network Interface or WANI together with the enthusiastic BharatNet initiative of the Centre would increase broadband availability in rural India.

Mr. Mahendra Nahata, managing director, HFCL told ETTelecom, “We have created a Wi-Fi system that is carrier-grade. It is entirely 100% indigenous R&D, including software and hardware. We have already delivered 1 lakh of Wi-Fi products in 2020 within a couple of months.”

The domestic company, that has an order book of Rs. 7,500 crore (US$ 1.02 billion) has delivered Wi-Fi equipment to private companies and is also aiming to further ship the new made-in-India product globally.

Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi launched Atmanirbhar Bharat or India's self-reliant drive in May 2020 to empower the domestic industry to reduce import dependency following the contagious shutdown caused by Covid-19.

He added, “It will push in a decent amount of broadband in the villages”. If BharatNet and WANI are put together. In line with the goals of the government, the indigenous vendors will benefit.

Last month, the Cabinet has approved the Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface (PM-WANI) scheme intends to promote wireless connectivity by means of enhancing free wireless Internet in public locations across the country, as a part of the Digital India programme.

The scheme will allow any person or retailer to set up a public Wi-Fi hotspot and provide seamless data services and promote employment opportunities.

The promoter said, “We've developed Wi-Fi 6 already. It is already under operators' testing. We are also in the phase of designing equipment for the Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH).”

The Delhi-based company is planning a substantial quantum of orders once the WANI programme rolls off.

Mr. Nahata said, “Overall, our company’s order book is ~ Rs. 7,500 crore  (US$ 1.02 billion) at present and more orders are in the pipeline. It has the capacity to produce 19-20 million kilometres (fkm) of optic fibre cable (OFC) annually.”

The supplier of digital infrastructure, which is one of the country's key two fibre producers, affirms to be the largest producer of FTTH cables and exports to as many as 30 countries.

According to Mr. Nahata, HFCL is also in the process of designing FTTH-related optical networks and is witnessing a huge demand due to the upcoming 5G networks deployment, and the government-backed BharatNet program.

With the increasing global demand for FTTH and the 5G implementation, the company is also planning to expand its FTTH cables production capacity by a third at its Hyderabad operations by March 2021.

The top executive said, “I assume, given the international thrust on 5G and FTTH, the cable sector will have a strong future for the next few years, and in India, Wi-Fi projects such as BharatNet and WANI. Also, Mr. Modi's 1,000-day drive to digitally link 600,000 villages will further boost the industry.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.