As India rapidly scales 5G networks, fiber densification, data centres, surveillance and smart infrastructure, test and measurement (T&amp;M) solutions have moved from being a support function to a strategic backbone.
We spoke with Mr. Anurag Saxena, Managing Director of Star Group, a company at the forefront of indigenous test and measurement equipment for telecom, IT and security networks. Edited excerpts:
1. How has India&rsquo;s test &amp; measurement ecosystem evolved in the last five years?
Over the past five years, we&rsquo;ve seen a fundamental shift. Earlier, India was almost entirely import-dependent, and buyers would default to a few global brands without questioning suitability or lifecycle costs. Today, with large-scale fiber rollout, 5G trials, smart city deployments and mission-critical surveillance, the market has become more demanding and far more mature.
Indian manufacturers have improved dramatically in product design, software integration, ruggedization and field support. There is now a clear recognition that high-quality, reliable test and measurement equipment can be designed, built and calibrated in India, for Indian conditions.
2. What problem were you originally trying to solve when you started Star Infomatic?
The biggest gap I saw was the disconnect between field realities and the tools engineers had in their hands. Most instruments were either:
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Too expensive&nbsp;</li>
<li>Difficult and slow to service locally&nbsp;</li>
<li>Not designed for India&rsquo;s dust, heat, power instability and handling conditions&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Field engineers needed dependable, rugged and easy-to-service instruments that work every single day, not just look good in a spec sheet. The idea behind Star Infomatic was not simply to &ldquo;manufacture products&rdquo; but to build practical solutions for real-world networks - tools that genuinely support the engineers who keep India&rsquo;s networks running.
3. Which segments are driving your current growth?
Growth today is being driven by a convergence of telecom, IT and security:
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Fiber testing and certification&nbsp;</li>
<li>Structured cabling and enterprise LAN testing&nbsp;</li>
<li>Surveillance and smart city network validation&nbsp;</li>
<li>Data centre and cloud connectivity testing&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Government-led programs and private digital expansion are both pushing demand. What&rsquo;s interesting is that these segments are no longer separate verticals - they overlap. A smart city deployment, for example, combines telecom, surveillance, IoT and data connectivity, all of which require versatile, high-performance test solutions.
4. Is domestic demand stronger than export demand, or are they now comparable?
Domestic demand remains very strong because of India&rsquo;s scale, geography and the speed of rollout. At the same time, we&rsquo;re seeing rising interest from global markets that face similar challenges - pressure to reduce costs, improve reliability and get faster local support.
Exports are now a parallel growth engine, not a replacement. Our strategy is to build robust, field-proven products in India and then scale them globally through the right distribution and support partners.
5. How do you balance rapid innovation with reliability, calibration and long-term field performance?
For us, innovation has to be stable, otherwise it&rsquo;s just a gimmick. Every product goes through:
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Extensive field testing in real environments&nbsp;</li>
<li>Calibration checks against recognised standards&nbsp;</li>
<li>Durability tests for shock, heat, humidity and rough handling&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Rather than chasing cosmetic updates, we focus on stability, repeatability and long-term usability. This approach has helped us build trust with customers who use our equipment daily in demanding conditions.
6. How much of your capability pipeline is driven by in-house R&amp;D?
A large majority of our capability is driven by in-house R&amp;D and continuous feedback from the field. We stay closely in touch with engineers, system integrators and telecom operators who tell us where the pain points are - whether it&rsquo;s battery life, UI simplicity, AI-driven diagnostics or integration with cloud platforms.
We also invest in constant technology benchmarking, skill upgrades and software improvements, so we evolve with the industry, not after it.
7. How is Star Infomatic contributing to Make in India and reducing import dependency?
Our main contribution is in building credible, certified alternatives to imported test equipment. That means:
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Designing products in India&nbsp;</li>
<li>Establishing local calibration and repair facilities&nbsp;</li>
<li>Training teams for rapid service and support&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
By doing this, we reduce dependency not only on imported instruments, but also on overseas service and calibration ecosystems, making the entire value chain more resilient and self-reliant.
8. What challenges do Indian manufacturers still face against low-cost imports?
The first barrier is perception. Many buyers still assume that foreign equals better, even when local products outperform in real-world usage.
The second challenge is ultra-low-cost imports, which sometimes compromise on build quality, calibration, or after-sales support. We respond by:
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Demonstrating total cost of ownership&nbsp;</li>
<li>Highlighting lifecycle reliability and service&nbsp;</li>
<li>Providing fast, transparent support that low-cost imports usually lack&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Over time, customers see that saving a few rupees upfront can be expensive in the long run.
9. What policy support would further accelerate indigenous T&amp;M manufacturing?
Three things can make a major impact:
1.Strong procurement policies that prioritise certified Indian products&nbsp;
2.Standardisation and testing infrastructure accessible to domestic manufacturers&nbsp;
3.Predictable long-term demand from government and PSU projects&nbsp;
If manufacturers can see stable demand and a level playing field, they will confidently invest more in R&amp;D and production capacity.
10. How do you approach partnerships with SIs, PSUs, operators and OEMs?
We see partnerships as long-term technical relationships, not just sales channels. Our goal is to:
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Understand operational challenges&nbsp;</li>
<li>Offer customised or semi-custom solutions&nbsp;</li>
<li>Provide strong post-deployment support and training&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
When partners view us as an extension of their engineering team, the relationship becomes more collaborative and far more valuable for both sides.
11. Is global distribution part of your immediate roadmap?
Yes. Global channel expansion is firmly on our roadmap. We are selective in choosing partners who understand their local markets and can support customers effectively. The goal is not just to sell products overseas, but to build a durable presence in strategic regions.
12. Do Indian buyers prioritise price or performance?
Price usually starts the conversation, but performance, uptime and service decide whether the relationship lasts. That&rsquo;s why we focus heavily on educating customers about:
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li>Total cost of ownership&nbsp;</li>
<li>Calibration stability&nbsp;</li>
<li>Equipment lifespan and reliability&nbsp;</li>
<li>Availability of local support and spares&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Once they experience the full lifecycle, most customers naturally shift from price-first to value-first thinking.
13. What upcoming shift in demand or technology excites you most?
The most exciting trend is the convergence of telecom, surveillance, cloud and AI-driven networks. As networks become more critical and complex, the demand for intelligent, precise and dependable test solutions will explode.
This opens up huge scope for AI-assisted diagnostics, remote monitoring, predictive maintenance and cloud-integrated test workflows - and we are actively building capabilities in that direction.
14. In one line, what should Star Infomatic be known for five years from now?
A globally trusted Indian brand that delivers reliable, field-proven test and measurement solutions for the digital infrastructure of the future.

India’s test and measurement ecosystem is evolving fast. Star Infomatic leads indigenous innovation for telecom, IT, and smart networks.

Building India’s Next-Gen Test And Measurement Ecosystem

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Building India’s Next-Gen Test And Measurement Ecosystem

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