Date: September 14, 2026
Board Meeting Outcomes
- Approved additional capacity expansion of 4.60 million fiber kilometers per annum for Optical Fiber
- Approved additional capacity expansion of 5.64 million fiber kilometers per annum for Optical Fiber Cable
- Approved additional capacity expansion of 300 metric tonnes per annum for Preform manufacturing
- Total additional capital expenditure estimated at approximately ₹820 crore
- This is in addition to previously approved aggregate capital expenditure of approximately ₹980 crore
- Total planned capital expenditure for capacity enhancement initiatives now approximately ₹1,800 crore
Capacity Details
Preform Manufacturing
- Current ongoing expansion: ~300 metric tonnes per annum
- Proposed addition: ~300 metric tonnes per annum
- Total capacity after expansion: ~600 metric tonnes per annum
- Investment required: ₹670 crore
- Implementation through wholly owned subsidiary HFCL Technologies Private Limited
Optical Fiber Manufacturing
- Existing capacity: 28.0 million fiber kilometers per annum
- Current ongoing expansion resulting in capacity: 38.50 million fiber kilometers per annum
- Proposed addition: 4.60 million fiber kilometers per annum
- Total capacity after expansion: 43.10 million fiber kilometers per annum
- Investment required: ₹150 crore
Optical Fiber Cable Manufacturing
- Existing capacity: 39.0 million fiber kilometers per annum
- Current ongoing expansion resulting in capacity: 56.36 million fiber kilometers per annum
- Proposed addition: 5.64 million fiber kilometers per annum
- Total capacity after expansion: 62.00 million fiber kilometers per annum
Project Timeline
- Optical Fiber and Optical Fiber Cable capacity expansion expected completion: July 2028
- Preform Manufacturing Facility expected establishment: October 2028
Financing Arrangements
Optical Fiber & Optical Fiber Cable Expansion
- Appropriate mix of internal accruals and/or debt financing
Preform Manufacturing Facility
- Appropriate mix of internal accruals, debts, proceeds from preferential issue of warrants already issued to Promoter and Promoter Group entity, or combination thereof
Strategic Rationale
- Strong order book for Optical Fiber Cable and optical connectivity products (approximately ₹19,000 crore as on date)
- Robust pipeline of additional business opportunities expected to materialize over near to medium term
- Favorable long-term demand outlook globally for optical communications infrastructure
- Growing demand drivers include AI-enabled digital infrastructure, hyperscale data centers, cloud computing, high-performance computing, telecom network expansion, fiber-to-the-home adoption, enterprise fiberization, rural connectivity initiatives, and telecom network modernization programmes
Manufacturing Integration Benefits
- Creation of larger, integrated and more resilient optical fiber manufacturing platform
- Coverage of critical value chain stages from Preform to Optical Fiber, Optical Fiber Cable and Connectivity Solutions
- Enhanced backward integration capabilities through Preform manufacturing
- Improved supply chain resilience and reduced dependence on external suppliers
- Expected cost efficiencies and margin enhancement
- Improved operational efficiencies and economies of scale
- Enhanced export competitiveness
Management Commentary
Mr. Mahendra Nahata, Managing Director, stated: "The proposed investment marks an important step in HFCL's journey towards building a larger and fully integrated optical communications manufacturing platform. The growing adoption of AI-enabled digital infrastructure, hyperscale data centres, cloud computing and advanced telecom networks is creating significant long-term opportunities for optical communication products globally. By expanding our Optical Fiber and Optical Fiber Cable capacities and establishing a significantly larger Preform manufacturing facility, we intend to strengthen our ability to meet growing customer requirements, improve supply chain resilience and enhance operational efficiencies."