India Positioned to Lead in Global Submarine Telecom Cable Network
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Synopsis
India is set to strengthen its position in the global submarine cable network, leveraging its strategic location and existing infrastructure to enhance international connectivity and digital services.
Key Takeaways
- India hosts 17 international submarine cables.
- Submarine cables account for over 99% of global data exchanges.
- New SEA-ME-WE 6 cable enhances connectivity to global regions.
- Meta's Waterworth project will span 50,000 km, connecting five continents.
- India's telecom sector is crucial for digital growth.
New Delhi, March 10 (NationPress) India, which plays a crucial role in the international submarine cable network, has the opportunity to further dominate the market thanks to its strategic geographical location.
The nation currently accommodates approximately 17 international subsea cables through 14 unique landing stations situated in Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum.
The combined lit capacity and activated capacity of these cables reached 138.606 terabits per second (Tbps) and 111.111 Tbps, respectively, by the end of 2022.
Indian telecom entities involved in submarine cable infrastructure encompass Tata Communications, which manages five cable landing stations in Mumbai, Chennai, and Cochin; Global Cloud eXchange, which operates stations in Mumbai and Trivandrum; Bharti Airtel, with stations in Chennai and Mumbai; Sify Technologies and BSNL, both engaged in the management of various cable landing stations; and Vodafone and IOX, the latter planning to build a new cable landing station in Puducherry.
Recently, Bharti Airtel successfully landed the new SEA-ME-WE 6 (Southeast Asia-Middle East-West Europe-6, or SMW6) submarine telecom cable in Chennai, having previously landed it in Mumbai on December 30, 2024.
This 21,700 route km (Rkm) submarine cable system links India to Singapore and France (Marseille) via terrestrial routes across Egypt. With this development, Airtel has significantly strengthened its global network presence and diversified its capacity in the submarine cable system.
The cable landing operations in both Mumbai and Chennai will be fully integrated with Airtel’s data centre division, Nxtra by Airtel. Airtel’s global network extends across five continents, with investments in 34 cables worldwide.
Submarine cables facilitate over 99 percent of international data transfers, making their reliability a global priority.
Last month, Meta introduced a new 50,000 km undersea cable initiative named 'Waterworth' to improve digital connections between India and the US. The project aims to provide industry-leading connectivity to the US, India, Brazil, South Africa, and other significant regions.
Upon completion, it will connect five major continents and span over 50,000 km (longer than the Earth's circumference), establishing it as the world’s longest subsea cable project utilizing the most advanced technology available.
Fueled by India’s increasing demand for digital services, this investment underscores Meta’s commitment to economic growth, robust infrastructure, and digital inclusion, thereby supporting India’s flourishing digital landscape and promoting technological innovation.
Subsea cable projects are essential for global digital infrastructure, comprising more than 95 percent of intercontinental traffic across the oceans, thereby facilitating seamless digital communication, video experiences, online transactions, and more.
