India telecom sector expands infrastructure for 5G and AI

India's telecommunications sector is experiencing a shift in infrastructure requirements driven by 5G adoption, AI applications, and government initiatives like BharatNet Phase III. This evolution is moving the industry beyond volume-driven manufacturing toward specialized, high-performance products.

Polycab India Ltd. is expanding its optical fibre cable (OFC) manufacturing capabilities to meet these needs. The company is focusing on high-core-count underground armoured cables, ADSS aerial cables, and bend-insensitive solutions for FTTH and 5G backhaul, utilizing its backward-integrated facilities and advanced automation.

Simultaneously, Ericsson reports that India's telecom market continues to grow, fueled by rising data consumption and the emergence of AI. AI applications are expected to drive demand for higher uplink speeds and lower latency to support technologies such as augmented and virtual reality. While 5G services are available in nearly all districts, with approximately 550 million users as of late 2026, the country aims to reach one billion 5G subscribers by 2030.