India, Oct. 21 -- Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) has emerged as a key instrument in India's efforts to extend last-mile connectivity to hard-to-reach areas. It enables relatively rapid deployment and circumvents right-of-way and trenching barriers that often delay wired infrastructure projects. In recent years, it has allowed operators to plug coverage gaps in semi-rural zones and deliver basic broadband services. However, the global experience is instructive-FWA is a transitional tool, not a long-term solution. For a country with India's digital ambitions, economic scale, and population density, the focus must shift decisively toward fibre.

The real test of digital infrastructure lies not in reach alone, but in capacity, sustainability, an...