In the telecom world, failure doesn’t always look like a crash. Sometimes, it’s the quiet stuff, a buffer symbol that spins a little longer, a high-def stream that drops to SD, or a corporate video call that cuts out mid-pitch. For one of India’s leading telecom providers, serving over 100 million subscribers, these early signs signaled something bigger: a network infrastructure nearing its breaking point. The root cause? Explosive growth in data usage, rising adoption of video-heavy apps, and the pressure to be 5G-ready in a world where customer expectations never sleep.
A Network Under Pressure: The Reality on the Ground
Behind the scenes, the pressure was mounting.
The operator’s transport network—once considered rock-solid—was now facing strain from all directions.
With more connected devices entering the mix, smartphones, IoT sensors, AR/VR applications, and even remote-controlled AGVs, the demand for bandwidth had become insatiable. Traditional routing protocols like LDP, while reliable in their time, were too slow and rigid to keep pace. They couldn’t make the dynamic, real-time routing decisions today’s services require.
And latency? It was no longer just a performance metric, it was a business risk.
Services like remote diagnostics, industrial automation, and real-time communication demanded ultra-low latency, and even a few milliseconds of delay could derail experiences that depended on precision and responsiveness.
At the same time, the existing infrastructure, largely IPv4 based, was becoming a bottleneck. With millions of devices trying to connect, the system needed the scalability of IPv6 to survive the next wave of growth.
Security was becoming a parallel priority. With more sensitive data flowing across public and private networks, the operator needed to ensure that traffic could be routed securely, intelligently, and without compromise, even in rural areas with power fluctuations.
And then there was the operations challenge. When things went wrong (and they would), teams needed to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve issues remotely, with no service impact. That wasn’t a “nice to have” anymore, it was critical.
The operator didn’t just need more bandwidth.
They needed a smarter, stronger, and far more adaptable transport backbone.
The Challenge: When Growth Outpaces Infrastructure
The operator had built a strong transport network, but usage had outgrown it.
- ● 4G services had exploded.
- ● Data demand was peaking.
- ● New 5G use cases from immersive gaming to smart enterprises—were on the horizon.
And all of this had to be managed across millions of mobile and enterprise connections without disrupting live services.
A traditional upgrade wouldn’t cut it. They needed something smarter, faster and future-proof.
The Turning Point: Reimagining the Network with HFCL
That’s when HFCL stepped in, not just as a telecom equipment vendor from India, but as a strategic partner with deep R&D capabilities and a clear understanding of scalable, modern telecom architecture.
Together, they began transforming the operator’s transport layer with HFCL’s DCR 1100 Series IP/MPLS routers, built to handle next-gen networking demands without the baggage of legacy limitations.
But this wasn’t a plug-and-play switch. It was a ground-up rethinking of what a future-ready telecom network should look like.
The Solution: Engineering a 5G-Ready Backbone
Each piece of the puzzle addressed a critical challenge:
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1. Massive Capacity, Compact Design
The routers delivered up to 800 Gbps at the pre-aggregation layer and 360 Gbps at the access layer, all in a 1RU compact form factor. That meant more power without space compromises, especially in dense urban hubs and rural towers with limited infrastructure. -
2. Flexible, Scalable Network Architecture
With support for 1G/10G/25G/40G/100G interface rates, the DCR 1100 allowed seamless scaling, critical for ring upgrades and bandwidth expansions. It enabled the operator to move beyond the 10G legacy bottleneck without needing constant hardware swaps. -
3. Future-Ready Protocols
HFCL’s routers support advanced features like Segment Routing, IPv6, and Zero Touch Provisioning which simplified traffic engineering, improved routing flexibility, and reduced deployment time significantly. -
4. Built for Real-World Conditions
Rural sites often face unstable power or extreme conditions. The routers’ N+1 redundant power units and hot-swappable fans meant no interruptions, even in the harshest settings.
A Smooth Rollout, Without Service Disruption
Deployment was as important as design. HFCL worked closely with the operator to:
- ● Audit existing infrastructure
- ● Roll out routers in phases
- ● Validate interoperability with other major vendors like Juniper, Huawei, Nokia, and Ribbon
- ● Ensure zero disruption to ongoing services
This wasn’t just a deployment, it was a carefully orchestrated transition, balancing innovation with continuity.
The Results: Metrics That Matter, and Momentum That Lasts
- ● 5X increase in network capacity
- ● Seamless support for advanced 5G services
- ● Noticeable improvements in latency and throughput
- ● Minimal hardware upgrades needed for future expansion
- ● Reduced reliance on legacy systems
But the real success? Millions of users now enjoy faster connections, smoother video, and more reliable services without even noticing the network underneath changed entirely.
Looking Ahead: Built for What’s Next
By upgrading with HFCL’s IP/MPLS routers, the operator hasn’t just solved for today, they have positioned themselves for what’s coming.
They now have the backbone to deliver AI-driven network services, cloud-native enterprise solutions and 5G-ready applications with low-latency performance
And all of it on an infrastructure built to grow, adapt, and lead.
In telecom, the best transformations are invisible to users but monumental behind the scenes.
If you're thinking about what it really takes to be future-ready, maybe it's time to go beyond speed and ask - is your network truly built for what’s next?
Talk to HFCL about how our routers, transport solutions, and integration expertise can help modernize your telecom backbone efficiently, scalably, and without disruption.