Tag: submarine cables

  • India’s Internet Growth Faces Undersea Cable Vulnerabilities

    India’s Internet Growth Faces Undersea Cable Vulnerabilities

    India’s rapid digital expansion relies heavily on a network of submarine cables that carry the vast majority of its international internet traffic. However, this critical infrastructure faces several vulnerabilities that could threaten the country’s connectivity ambitions.

    Undersea Cables: The Backbone of Global Internet

    Almost all intercontinental digital communication depends on submarine cables. For India, these cables link the country with Europe, Africa, West Asia, and Asia, enabling seamless international data flow.

    Concentration Near Mumbai Creates a Bottleneck

    At least 13 of India’s 18 intercontinental submarine cables land within roughly six kilometers of Mumbai’s Versova coast. This single landing zone handles a major share of the nation’s international bandwidth, making it a critical point of failure.

    Soaring Data Consumption

    India’s broadband subscriber base surpassed 1.06 billion in March 2026. Wireless data usage jumped from 73,324 PB to 77,953 PB in just one quarter, underscoring the relentless growth in demand.

    Aging Infrastructure

    About 11 of India’s 18 international cable systems are over 20 years old, approaching the end of their typical design life. This aging infrastructure adds strain as AI, cloud computing, and video traffic continue to surge.

    No Domestic Cable Repair Capability

    India currently lacks an Indian-flagged, Indian-owned, or India-stationed submarine cable repair vessel. Repairs depend on foreign operators and ships, leading to potential delays when faults occur.

    Risks of Cable Cuts

    A single cable fault does not immediately disrupt India’s internet—traffic can reroute through other paths. However, multiple cuts, congested alternatives, or slow repairs can degrade international connections, causing higher latency and slower speeds.

    Geopolitical Risks in the Red Sea

    Several key international routes traverse the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz. Damage in these regions forces traffic onto longer or more congested routes, adding pressure to global connectivity.

    New Projects Offer Hope

    Emerging cable projects aim to reduce dependence on Mumbai. The I-2SEA system will connect India with Malaysia and Singapore, with planned landings at Machilipatnam and South Chennai, targeting operational status by 2029.

    Need for Enhanced Repair Capacity

    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recommended exploring Indian-flagged repair vessels and establishing cable depots on both the eastern and western coasts. Increasing landing sites, deploying newer cables, and speeding up repair systems are essential for building resilience.

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  • India’s Internet Growth Exposes Fragility in Submarine Cable Network

    India’s Internet Growth Exposes Fragility in Submarine Cable Network

    India’s digital revolution is surging—broadband subscriptions have crossed 1.06 billion and data usage jumped from 73,324 petabytes to 77,953 petabytes in just one quarter. Yet the backbone of this connectivity, the undersea cables that carry nearly all intercontinental internet traffic, reveals a critical weakness.

    At least 13 of India’s 18 international submarine cables make landfall within about six kilometers of Mumbai’s Versova coast. This concentration means a single geographic point bears the brunt of the country’s international bandwidth. Meanwhile, 11 of those 18 cable systems are over 20 years old—pushing beyond their typical design life just as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and video streaming drive demand even higher.

    India also lacks its own submarine cable repair fleet. There is no Indian-flagged, Indian-owned, or India-stationed repair vessel, so the country depends entirely on foreign operators and ships for fixes. While a single cable cut does not automatically crash the internet—traffic can reroute—multiple cuts, congested alternatives, or repair delays can lead to slower international connections and higher latency. Important routes like the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz add another layer of risk.

    New projects offer hope. The I-2SEA system, connecting India with Malaysia and Singapore via landings at Machilipatnam and South Chennai, targets 2029. But the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has also recommended developing Indian-flagged repair vessels and cable depots on both coasts. More landing sites, fresher cables, and faster repair capacity are essential to keep India’s internet boom from stalling.