NHAI plans nationwide optical fibre network

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is planning to lay down its own optical fibre cable (OFC) network, along the major highways under the public private partnership model, according to official sources. The move is aimed at building the infrastructure for barrier-free tolling and smart highways, besides enabling leasing out of excess network capacity for commercial uses.

With its expansive 1.46 lakh-km of highway network, NHAI’s OFC infrastructure would beat similar networks built by RailTel and Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) in terms of length and breadth, and help handle the country’s surging data volumes. 

Though the exact cost of the planned OFC network will have to be determined, but if the entire existing NHAI network is to be converted to digital ways, the total investments needed could be over Rs 35,000 crore.