Last year, Mumbai-headquartered Sterlite Technologies Limited, set up its own manufacturing facility in Lugoff, South Carolina, to manufacture optical cables for the global market.
The plant in the U.S.:
- is strategically located closer to the customers in the region for speedier delivery,
- increases manufacturing capacity to meet the growing demand for fiber,
- minimizes the carbon footprint with in-region logistics and transportation, and
- creates more jobs in the region.
Sterlite’s managing director Ankit Agarwal said, “We aim to be among the top 3 global optic fiber manufacturers.”
Currently, in India, the company exports about 80% of its optic fiber cable and network products to global markets, including the U.S. and Europe.
With 5G in India fiberization will increase three-fold driven by tower and small cell fiberization, while tower fiberization will increase from approximately 35% to 80% to provide high-quality 5G services.
Agarwal added that 5G will require up to four times small cells, backhauled with fiber. In the next 4-5 years, India will have 300 million 5G users, 100 million fiber homes and 600,000 villages will be connected by Bharatnet, according to studies done by the company.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
