Q1. Could you start by giving us a brief overview of your professional background, particularly focusing on your expertise in the industry?

I started my career in the telecom industry at Lucent Technologies, now part of Nokia, where I worked on engineering tasks including fiber deployment, multiplexer installation, and TEC testing for government approvals during the Yoox Telecom rollout in Maharashtra. My experience spans both operator and vendor environments.

After Lucent, I joined Orange (which would later become Vodafone Idea). There, I designed Mumbai's network, expanding it from 70 cell sites to 3,000 within three years, during a period of rapid telecom growth in India.

At Motorola in Bangalore, I managed international projects across Russia, the Maldives, and CIS countries, focusing on network analysis, presales, and technology transition advisory. Key projects included auditing the MTS network in Moscow and designing a telecom network for the Maldives.

Returning to Mumbai, I joined NEC Nippon Electric Corporation to design the backhaul network for Tata’s GSM rollout. In 2011, I took on the role of Technical Director for a major Italian telecom equipment company, overseeing projects in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. These roles provided me with a comprehensive view of both Indian and international telecom markets.

In 2015, I returned to Vodafone, where over 8.5 years I designed high-capacity, hyperscale networks connecting cities, major consumption hubs, and OTT players. During this period, network speeds increased from 155 Mbps to multi-terabit capacities to support the growing demand for data-intensive applications such as video streaming and gaming.

Most recently, I consulted for Adani Green’s large-scale solar project in Gujarat, where I designed resilient communication systems to monitor and control extensive solar installations. This work included integrating signals from solar panels and implementing redundant systems to ensure operational continuity.

Q2. How do you assess the current demand trajectory for hyperscale fiber networks among OTT players and large enterprises in key markets?

When OTT players enter India, they usually start by building a broad network footprint before ramping up capacity where it’s most needed. I saw this process firsthand while working at Vodafone, where my team and I partnered closely with companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google.

For Amazon, ensuring their services were always available was non-negotiable. Instead of relying on a single site, they spread their infrastructure across five data centers in Mumbai. We designed the high-capacity links between these centers, watching traffic grow from 1.5 Tbps to over 20 Tbps in just a few years—a reflection of how quickly demand can surge in this sector.

Meta and Google followed similar paths, but soon began to focus more on the quality of user experience. Take YouTube, for example: every second of buffering can frustrate viewers, so the aim was to deliver content from the closest possible location. That meant deploying data centers and delivery points all over the country, bringing content physically closer to every user.

Since 2015, the pace of growth has been remarkable. Networks have been upgraded, new infrastructure has sprung up, and now we’re on the brink of another leap forward. With the rise of immersive applications like the Metaverse, networks will need to support even more bandwidth and near-instant response times for things like real-time 3D and interactive experiences.

To meet these challenges, the technology is changing fast. Hardware is shrinking and becoming more efficient, so we can put powerful servers right at cell sites—cutting down on delays and making everything feel smoother for the end user.

Of course, all this innovation brings added complexity. Keeping these networks running smoothly, reliably, and affordably takes a careful balance of expertise and planning. It’s not about building something flashy for its own sake—it’s about making sure the infrastructure is truly fit for the future.

Q3. How do you segment the hyperscale fiber market, and which segments exhibit the highest growth potential?

In India, hyperscale networks really operate in two distinct worlds. On one side, you have the big OTT names—Amazon, Meta, Google—who are laser-focused on creating a seamless digital experience. For these players, speed and reliability are everything, and their networks have to keep up with surging demand almost overnight.

On the other side are banks and large enterprises, where priorities shift. Here, it’s all about security, resilience, and compliance—even if that means sacrificing a bit of speed. Robust firewalls, strong data protection, and redundant systems are must-haves for these organizations.

Private 5G networks and automation are changing the game, especially for enterprises. With AI and machine learning, companies can now centralize control, reduce the need for large on-ground teams, and fix problems faster than ever. This new way of working drives up the need for massive bandwidth.

Both OTT players and enterprises need huge data capacity, so the expansion of hyperscale fiber and wireless networks is moving full speed ahead. Right now, it’s the OTT companies like Google and Meta pushing the envelope with rapid growth. But as private 5G and digital banking continue to mature, the banking and enterprise sector will quietly become the heavyweight in the long run—even as the OTTs keep setting the pace for fast adoption.

Q4. How do you foresee the evolution of enterprise data center interconnect solutions shaping fiber network architecture in the next 3-5 years?

Most fiber networks in India were originally designed for mobile operators, resulting in legacy infrastructure with many drop points, higher latency, and greater risk of failure. Upgrading these networks is a lengthy process that often takes years.

OTT players require purpose-built, high-speed, long-haul fiber connectivity between major data centers, such as those connecting Mumbai and Chennai to international submarine cables. By using utility infrastructure like high-tension power line towers for direct fiber runs, these connections minimize intermediate touch points, reduce latency, and provide greater stability with fewer failure risks.

This approach creates more efficient and resilient networks that are less prone to outages and better aligned with OTT requirements. While traditional mobile networks will continue to use existing infrastructure, there will be parallel development of customized, high-capacity networks for OTT and enterprise needs. Building these systems requires significant investment and long lead times, but this is increasingly prioritized as demand grows.

Q5. What innovations in fiber architecture and predictive analytics do you foresee enabling improved performance and operational efficiencies?

The evolution of fiber architecture is supported by the integration of AI and machine learning for predictive analytics in telecom networks. By analyzing operational and maintenance logs, these systems quickly identify and resolve network issues, reducing rectification times from hours to minutes. This not only improves network uptime and reliability but also lowers operational costs by reducing on-field manpower requirements. Major operators such as Vodafone, Airtel, Jio, and Idea are actively using these technologies to increase efficiency and reduce operational expenses.

Q6. In your view, who are the leading hyperscale fiber network providers, and what distinguishes their approach to network design and customer engagement?

Network providers in India can be grouped into traditional mobile operators such as Airtel, Vodafone Idea, and Jio, and new-generation players like Lightstorm Networks and Constel. Traditional operators provide extensive coverage and rapid access to new data centers due to their widespread infrastructure, but may face conflicts of interest. For example, Jio is less likely to carry third-party content that competes with its own services. Vodafone Idea actively supports third-party traffic, while Airtel does so to a lesser extent.

New-generation providers use utility fiber infrastructure to enable direct city-to-city connections and high-capacity links for data centers. However, they may face challenges in building last-mile connections to new sites. Each group has distinct advantages: mobile networks offer reach and speed, while utility fiber providers deliver scalable, high-capacity backbone connectivity.

Q7. If you were an investor looking at companies within the space, what critical question would you pose to their senior management?

New entrants to the Indian market need a clear focus on their target customer segment, whether OTT platforms or banking and enterprise clients. Success depends on designing purpose-built networks that meet the specific needs of the chosen segment. For example, Lightstorm focused on OTT players by building utility-fiber networks optimized for their requirements and avoided unrelated business opportunities.

Providers serving banking clients must prioritize advanced security and compliance, while those targeting OTTs should focus on performance and flexibility. Attempting to serve both markets with a single architecture reduces value and focus. Given the significant investment and long lead times for network deployment, companies should conduct thorough market analysis and confirm demand maturity before launching. Being fully prepared to deliver from day one is essential for building customer confidence.