HFCL’s portfolio offers license-free enterprise-grade indoor and rugged outdoor networking solutions that support both cloud-based or on-premise management, Bhuvnesh Sachdeva tells OGN

HFCL, a leading manufacturer of next-gen technologies from India, has partnered with Northstar Technology, a prominent Bahraini technology solutions provider, to bring its IO by HFCL brand of networking solutions tailored for the region’s oil and gas industry.

HFCL has built a reputation in India and other global markets as a trusted technology leader, delivering advanced communication networks for telecom operators, enterprises, and governments,

Its distinguishing feature is a license-free model with flexible cloud or on-premise management that keeps costs predictable and deployments flexible.

The IO by HFCL brand offers a portfolio of Wi-Fi 6/7 access points, high-capacity switches, and wireless solutions designed to compete with the established industry giants.

This is a timely development for the region’s oil and gas industry, where reliable connectivity is essential, from upstream oilfields to downstream refineries.

The IO by HFCL portfolio offers a robust mix of enterprise-grade indoor and rugged outdoor Wi-Fi access points, high-capacity L2/L3 switches, and wireless backhaul solutions, giving enterprises and public-sector operators the freedom to deploy fast, high-density networks without the typical cost and complexity overheads.

To make the rollout possible across the region, HFCL is collaborating with Northstar Technology and group partners to plan, deploy, and support the solutions across diverse applications, from smart campuses and hospitality to oilfield camps and government-led smart city programmes.

"We are truly excited about bringing IO by HFCL to the GCC. The region has tremendous potential as one of the fastest-growing regions for digital transformation, and we see an incredible opportunity to help drive that growth with our advanced Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 solutions," Bhuvnesh Sachdeva, Senior Vice-President, International Business, HFCL, tells OGN energy magazine in an interview.

Below are excerpts from the interview:

What excites you most about bringing IO by HFCL to the Gulf region?

The GCC is currently one of the most dynamic regions in the world. With governments and industries investing heavily in digital transformation, smart cities, and next-generation infrastructure, we see tremendous potential here. We’re excited to be part of this journey and to contribute our expertise in delivering world-class Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 solutions.

Oil and gas operations, both upstream and downstream, depend heavily on connectivity. How does IO by HFCL address the unique challenges of this sector, especially in the oilfields?

Upstream operations often take place in remote and harsh environments where the installing traditional wired infrastructure is both difficult and costly.

Our ruggedised outdoor Wi-Fi 6/7 access points, together with wireless backhaul solutions, enable secure, high-capacity networks across oilfields, supporting workforce mobility, IoT sensors, and critical safety systems.

In downstream environments, including refineries, petrochemical plants, and distribution hubs, the challenge shifts to handling dense, mission-critical connectivity.

Here, control rooms, inspection areas, logistics yards, and processing stations all demand seamless, low-latency wireless coverage.

That connectivity unlocks real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, rapid incident response, and coordinated safety operations, which can significantly improve uptime and reliability.

Additionally, with AI based analytics and management, it can significantly reduce the operation and maintenance efforts and expenses.

Can you give an example how IO by HFCL could make a real difference in an oil and gas deployment?

We’ve seen HFCL’s communication and networking product business engage with organisations operating in the mining and refinery, petrochemical, and pipeline sectors, such as Mahanadi Coal fields, Engineers India Limited (EIL), and others.

Those projects give a strong indication of how IO by HFCL can add value across the oil and gas chain, including upstream facilities, midstream pipelines and downstream processing.

In a desert oilfield camp with minimal fixed infrastructure, deploying IO by HFCL’s outdoor access points, industrial switches and wireless backhaul, can help customers quickly establish a resilient "wireless fabric" that spans drilling rigs, temporary worker accommodations, remote monitoring stations, and mobile control trailers.

Worker tablets or wearable devices can stay connected to offer real-time updates, safety alerts, or remote diagnostics; and IoT sensors, such as flowmeters, pressure or temperature sensors, and gas detectors, stream live to a centralised AI based analytics hub.

Consider the same connectivity fabric closer to the refinery and logistics hubs: High-density Wi-Fi 6/7 inside inspection yards, logistics loading areas, and control stations means cleaner, faster voice/video/data communications, better situational awareness, quicker response to anomalies, and more coordinated maintenance and safety workflows.

What is HFCL’s long-term vision for the GCC?

Our vision is to establish IO by HFCL as a trusted enabler of digital transformation across the GCC.

By working with Northstar Technology and group partners, our aim is to deliver solutions that empower businesses, public institutions, and industrial operators.

HFCL wants to build a long-term presence in the region, aligned with the GCC’s ambitious growth agenda in smart infrastructure and industrial modernisation.

Founded in 1987, HFCL is a leading Indian technology company specialising in telecom equipment, optical fibre, and connectivity solutions. Headquartered in New Delhi, it has four advanced manufacturing facilities in India producing optical fibre, fibre cables, accessories, and telecom equipment.

HFCL has a strong R&D presence in the Indian cities of Gurgaon, Bengaluru, Goa, and Hyderabad, in addition to customer success centres globally, in the UK and US.

The company serves customers in over 30 countries, including telecom operators, enterprises, and governments, and offers expertise in optical fiber, optical fiber cables, Wi-Fi 6/7, unlicensed band radios, 5G FWA and transport equipment, and mission-critical communication networks.

HFCL company has a proven track record of delivering large-scale projects, including rural broadband under India’s BharatNet programme, and private networks for defense, railways, and smart cities.