Exclusive Interview with Murali Sampath, Vice President R&D at Alphion India
Exclusive Interview with Murali Sampath, Vice President R&D at Alphion India Powering India’s Broadband Future with Innovation and AI
In this exclusive interview, Murali Sampath shares how Alphion is driving India’s broadband and optical networking evolution through innovation, localization, and AI integration. He discusses the company’s R&D focus on next-gen technologies like XGS-PON and 25G PON, AI-driven network optimization, and cost-effective, power-efficient solutions tailored for India’s diverse environments—positioning Alphion at the forefront of the nation’s digital growth.
IT Voice- How do you see the evolution of India’s broadband and optical networking infrastructure over the next 3–5 years?
Murali Sampath– India’s broadband and optical networking infrastructure is poised for significant transformation over the next three to five years, driven by Government initiatives, private sector investments, and rapid technological advancements. Some of the key developments driving this growth include the National Broadband Mission and the expansion of BharatNet, which are extending high-speed connectivity across the country. We are also witnessing strong momentum in optical networking, and fibre infrastructure growth, along with the rollout of 5G Rollout and integration of satellite technologies to enhance coverage and capacity.
In addition, the push towards smart cities, the growth of digital infrastructure and the increasing number of IoT devices are creating a strong need for robust broadband networks capable of supporting smart applications and delivering seamless control to users.
IT Voice- Compared to advanced markets like Japan, South Korea, or the US, where does India currently stand in terms of broadband technology maturity and infrastructure readiness?
Murali Sampath- India trails advanced markets in both per-capita fiber penetration, and peak speeds. While XGS-PON is gaining ground here, developed markets are moving to 25G-PON and even 50G-PON, which deliver speeds 2.5-5 times faster. However, the gap is narrowing in urban pockets where private investments have driven solid FTTH rollout. Various enterprises are also keen on high-capacity PON trials.
IT Voice- What are the unique adoption patterns you see in India, and how do these shape your strategies as Alphion’s R&D leader?
Murali Sampath-India is a heterogeneous yet budget-conscious market. Beyond the rural–urban divide in adoption and penetration, the market faces challenges like power outages and high population density in many cities.
At Alphion, our focus is on developing products and solutions that are power-efficient, cost-effective, and tailored to meet the specific needs of the Indian market, with strong emphasis on import substitution and localisation. We also prioritise cost-effective solutions tailored to India’s price-sensitive market by optimizing existing technologies like GPON and deploying scalable network designs. This approach allows us to gradually introduce next-gen technologies in high-demand or high-revenue segments, while simultaneously expanding affordable broadband access in underserved and rural areas using proven, cost-effective solutions. Strategic partnerships, localized manufacturing, and modular architectures help reduce costs further.
IT Voice- Could you highlight some of the key R&D projects currently underway at Alphion that cater to both the Indian and global markets?
Murali Sampath- We invest in R&D for advanced technologies such as XGS-PON and 25G PON to future-proof India’s broadband infrastructure. These innovations enable higher capacity, enhanced scalability, and improved service quality over the medium to long term.
IT Voice- How does Alphion ensure its R&D pipeline and products align with India’s specific needs—like cost sensitivity and diverse environments—while still meeting global standards?
Murali Sampath- Our R&D is focused on addressing India’s specific needs while meeting international standards. We achieve this by designing products that can withstand tough conditions, remain affordable, and are easy to adopt. By leveraging local sourcing, we keep costs low, while ensuring that our products are ready for international deployment.
IT Voice- What role do you see AI playing in access technologies, and what kind of disruptions do you anticipate in the near future?
Murali Sampath- Artificial Intelligence will make networks much smarter. It will predict and prevent problems before they occur. AI can also bring about bandwidth optimisation by analysing user behaviour and taking real-time decisions like balancing traffic. The result will be a faster and superior customer experience, and lower cost for operators.
IT Voice- How is Alphion preparing its products and solutions to integrate AI-driven capabilities for network optimization and customer experience?
Murali Sampath- We are developing AI-powered network management tools that deliver predictive fault detection, automated configuration, and adaptive bandwidth allocation. These capabilities will help Indian operators maintain high network reliability and optimize performance-particularly in challenging environments with diverse user behaviour and infrastructure constraints.
IT Voice- What localization or design adaptations are you building into Alphion’s solutions to make them more suitable for India’s market conditions?
A: Alphion is prioritising innovations in both hardware and software to suit India’s diverse geography and varying power/temperature conditions. Our efforts include designing low-power ONTs for rural areas with unstable electricity, ruggedized outdoor units, and intelligent software that handles fluctuating backhaul quality. These advancements will ensure service continuity and reduce the Total Cost of Ownership for operators.
IT Voice- How do you balance innovation for next-gen access technologies such as XGS-PON or 25G PON with the immediate demand for affordable broadband access in India?
Murali Sampath- At Alphion, our deep focus on innovation, localization, and import substitution helps us strike the right balance between affordability and next-generation technology. We continuously work to improve our existing solutions, while also designing platforms that allow customers to upgrade to advanced technologies without replacing their current systems. A recent example is the deployment of XGS-PON at IIT Delhi, where we customized and optimized the solution for an educational environment, ensuring it integrated seamlessly with their legacy network. This approach ensures that users benefit from affordable broadband today while being future ready.
IT Voice- Looking ahead, what are your top three R&D priorities to strengthen Alphion’s role in India’s broadband growth story?
Murali Sampath- While we continue developing, cost-effective, high-capacity access technologies tailored for India’s price-sensitive market, our primary R&D focus is on designing scalable solutions that minimise CapEx and OpEx for service providers, while ensuring future-proof performance. This will support India’s growing demand for high-speed broadband across both urban and rural areas and ensure minimum disruption and maximum adaptability of existing investments.
Our second priority is to invest in R&D for AI-powered network management tools that enable predictive fault detection, automated configuration, and adaptive bandwidth allocation.
Additionally, Alphion’s R&D team are developing innovations that address India’s diverse environmental and infrastructural realities. This includes introducing energy-efficient ONTs, durable outdoor units, and intelligent software solutions designed to ensure consistent service delivery.