AIGETOA writes to the CMD BSNL proposing a strategic and future-oriented approach for simultaneous underground OFC deployment along with extraction of buried/spare copper cables through a unified tendering mechanism. The ongoing initiative of BSNL for extraction and monetization of obsolete buried copper cables not only generates revenue from non-performing legacy assets but also helps reduce recurring maintenance expenditure on the aging copper network.
Click here for Letter to CMD BSNL
AIGETOA highlighted that a significant portion of BSNL’s FTTH last-mile connectivity is presently operating over overhead OFC infrastructure, which remains vulnerable to frequent disruptions due to road widening works, smart city projects, accidental cuts, pole damages, storms and local civic activities. Such repeated damages adversely impact service reliability, customer experience and increase restoration workload and maintenance expenditure. Many Enterprise Business (EB) leased circuits are also operating on overhead OFC routes, resulting in avoidable interruptions for high-value customers.
In view of these operational challenges, AIGETOA proposed that while floating tenders for extraction of buried copper cables, BSNL should simultaneously incorporate provisions for laying underground OFC along the same routes wherever technically and economically feasible. Since contractors would already be accessing underground cable routes, ducts and trenches for copper extraction, simultaneous OFC laying could be executed with minimal additional civil effort and significantly lower execution cost.
The association further suggested that the initiative can be strategically utilized for strengthening BSNL’s transmission resilience by covering missing OFC links between adjacent SDCAs, exchanges and important network locations, thereby improving redundancy, alternate routing capability and overall network reliability.
We elaborated that the integrated model would provide multiple long-term strategic benefits to BSNL, including optimum reutilization of existing underground cable corridors, reduction in trenching and restoration expenditure, replacement of old lossy OFC segments with modern fibre infrastructure, reduction in dependency on overhead OFC, improvement in FTTH and Enterprise service stability, reduction in operational workload and creation of a robust future-ready underground fibre ecosystem.
BSNL’s future competitiveness will increasingly depend upon the reliability and resilience of its fibre network and that the ongoing copper extraction initiative provides an excellent opportunity not merely for disposal of obsolete assets but also for rebuilding and strengthening BSNL’s underground fibre backbone in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.
We requested BSNL Management to issue suitable policy guidelines to all Circles and Business Areas for incorporating underground OFC laying provisions in tenders floated for extraction of spare and unutilized buried copper cables wherever feasible. Further, We suggest pilot implementation in selected high-potential areas before wider rollout.