India, March 24 -- India's digital and strategic transformation is progressing at a scale and speed few countries have experienced. National programmes such as BharatNet, the rollout of 5G networks, and the digitisation of defence communications are reshaping how the state, economy, and society function.

Beneath these visible layers of connectivity lies an often-overlooked foundation: photonics. Optical fibre, optical fibre preforms, and active optical components such as transceivers form the physical layer on which India's digital economy and emerging network-centric military capabilities depend. Despite their centrality, these components remain largely imported and insufficiently verified.

India today depends on external suppliers for...