Press Release - HFCL Joins Consortium Led by IIT Delhi on Development of Hollow-Core Fiber Technology
HFCL Joins Consortium Led by IIT Delhi on Development of Hollow-Core Fiber Technology
- Hollow-core fiber, a next-gen optical technology that significantly cuts latency and energy consumption versus conventional fiber
- With hyperscalers racing to build AI data centers, hollow-core fiber is emerging as the critical backbone for 6G, quantum networks, and ultra-low-latency infrastructure
- HFCL's globally accredited labs and integrated manufacturing ecosystem provide a credible end-to-end pathway from research validation to full-scale commercial deployment
New Delhi, February 23, 2026: HFCL Limited has joined the consortium of a Department of Telecommunications (DoT)-funded research project led by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi) focused on advancing hollow-core fiber (HCF) technology for next-generation communication networks.
The project aims to develop novel optical fiber technologies relevant to future 6G and quantum communication systems. As a consortium partner, HFCL will contribute industry expertise, manufacturing perspective, and application insights to support the translational aspects of the research.
Hollow-core fiber is an emerging optical technology designed to reduce transmission latency and enhance signal performance compared to conventional solid-core fiber. Globally, it is being explored for high-capacity, long-haul, and latency-sensitive network applications, including advanced data centers and next-generation telecom infrastructure.
With increasing AI workloads, hyperscale computing demand, and the evolution toward 6G networks, the need for ultra-low-latency optical infrastructure is expected to grow significantly. The DoT-supported initiative seeks to strengthen India’s indigenous capabilities in this strategically important domain. Hollow-core fiber can dramatically reduce energy consumption and reduce latency in data communication.
HFCL's optical fiber manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, together with advanced optical fiber cable facilities across Hyderabad, Goa, and Chennai, forms a fully integrated innovation ecosystem where breakthroughs move seamlessly from concept to deployment. Our customers don't just benefit from a supply chain; they gain a technology partner that ensures they are always at the frontier, never behind the curve. HFCL’s NABL-accredited laboratories and integrated manufacturing environment provide capabilities spanning validation, pilot-scale development, and production support.
Mahendra Nahata, Managing Director, HFCL, said:
“We are pleased to join this DoT-supported consortium led by IIT Delhi to advance hollow-core fiber technology, which holds significant promise for next-generation communication networks. As the global telecom ecosystem evolves toward 6G, AI-driven infrastructure, and ultra-low-latency applications, it is important for India to build indigenous capabilities in critical optical technologies.
HFCL brings deep expertise in optical fiber manufacturing, system integration, and large-scale telecom deployment. Through this consortium, we look forward to contributing industry insights on manufacturability, scalability, and real-world network requirements, ensuring that advanced research outcomes are aligned with practical deployment needs.
Collaborations of this nature strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem by connecting academic research with industrial capability. We believe such partnerships are essential for enhancing technological self-reliance and positioning India as a strong contributor to the future of global digital infrastructure.”
Professor Deepak Jain, Principal Investigator, IIT Delhi, said:
“Hollow-core fiber represents an important frontier in optical science and communication engineering, particularly as global networks evolve toward 6G, quantum communication, and latency-sensitive applications. This DoT-supported project aims to advance fundamental research and system-level understanding of hollow-core fiber technologies within the Indian ecosystem.
At IIT Delhi, our work integrates optical physics, materials engineering, and electromagnetic design to address both performance and practical implementation challenges. The participation of industry partners such as HFCL through the consortium framework provides valuable perspective on scalability, manufacturability, and deployment considerations.
Such structured collaboration between academia and industry is critical to accelerating innovation while ensuring alignment with national telecom priorities. We believe this initiative will contribute meaningfully to strengthening India’s long-term capabilities in advanced optical communication technologies.”
About HFCL
HFCL is a leading technology enterprise with operations in high end Telecom and Defence Equipment, Optical Fiber and Optical Fiber Cables and also creating digital networks for Telcos, Enterprises and Defence Forces. Over the years, HFCL has emerged as a trusted partner offering sustainable high-tech solutions with a commitment to providing the latest technological products to its customers. Our strong R&D expertise coupled with our global system integration services and decades of experience in Fiber optics enable us to deliver innovative digital network solutions required for the most advanced networks.
The Company’s in-house R&D Centers located at Gurgaon, Bengaluru and Hyderabad along with invested R&D houses and other R&D collaborators at different locations in India and abroad, innovate a futuristic range of technology products and solutions. HFCL has developed capabilities to provide premium quality Optical Fiber and Optical Fiber Cables, state-of-the-art Telecom Products including IP-MPLS Routers, Backhaul Radios, Wi-Fi Systems and Defence products viz. Thermal Weapon Sights, Electronic Fuzes, High-Capacity Radio Relay and Surveillance Radars of different types.
HFCL operates advanced manufacturing facilities in Hyderabad, Goa, Chennai (through its subsidiary HTL Ltd.) and Manesar for telecom and networking products, and Hosur for defence equipment.
HFCL is a partner of choice for its customers across India, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa and USA. HFCL’s commitment to quality and environmental sustainability inspires it to innovate solutions for the ever-evolving customer needs.
Visit www.hfcl.com for more information.
HFCL Limited
Manoj Baid | Amit Agarwal | Alok Chander
Email: manoj.baid@hfcl.com, amit.agarwal@hfcl.com,
alok@hfcl.com
Contact: +91 11 35209400
Kommune PR
Ruby Sinha | Saurabh Gupta | Saurav
Email: hfcl@kommune.in
Contact: +91 98180 75578, +91 96542 44050