RailTel Corporation of India Ltd., a leading Central Public Sector Enterprise (CPSE) under the Ministry of Railways, has been honoured with the esteemed Navratna status. This prestigious recognition marks RailTel as the 22nd CPSE to attain this significant milestone, reflecting its crucial role in the evolution of India’s telecom and IT infrastructure.
Founded on September 26, 2000, RailTel has transformed from a telecom service provider for Indian Railways into a major neutral telecom infrastructure provider, playing a pivotal role in the sector. The award of Navratna status underscores RailTel’s substantial growth and strategic importance. The company operates an extensive optical fibre network spanning 62,000 route kilometres (RKM), a 21,000-kilometre citywide access network, and maintains over 11,000 Points of Presence (PoPs). Additionally, RailTel manages approximately 1,100 telecom towers and has established one of the largest integrated public Wi-Fi networks worldwide, providing connectivity at 6,112 railway stations across India.
This enhanced status grants RailTel greater operational autonomy and financial flexibility, crucial for executing larger capital projects and exploring international markets. The Navratna designation empowers RailTel to undertake significant infrastructure investments and expand its business portfolio, which includes data centre services, cloud solutions, MPLS VPN, and security operations, alongside critical railway signalling projects. The company’s infrastructure is effectively overseen by a Central Network Operation Centre (CNOC) and four regional Network Operation Centres (NOCs), reinforcing its integral position within India’s telecom industry.
The attainment of Navratna status is a landmark achievement for RailTel, promising to accelerate its growth and enhance its operational capabilities. This recognition not only affirms RailTel’s substantial contributions to India’s telecom and IT sectors but also positions the company for ambitious expansion and project execution both domestically and globally. As RailTel leverages its increased autonomy and financial resources, it is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of telecom infrastructure and services in India.
