WHY ARE UNDERSEA CABLES IMPORTANT

THE CONTEXT:

Over 95% of international internet traffic travels via undersea, fiber-optic cables, forming the backbone of global communications. India’s digital growth (aspiring for a trillion-dollar digital economy) hinges on stable, high-capacity international connectivity. Vulnerabilities like cable cuts in conflict zones (e.g., the Red Sea) highlight the need for robust, diversified cable routes.

THE BACKGROUND: Submarine cables are laid on the ocean floor, connecting continents and carrying massive volumes of data at high speeds. Modern cables can transmit terabits per second and have an operational lifespan of 20–25 years. The global network comprises over 500 active and planned systems; disruptions can rapidly affect national economies.

 

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK:

• • • • Digital Public Infrastructure: India’s e-governance and digital public goods (e.g., UPI, Aadhaar) depend on international bandwidth.
      • Cyber Sovereignty: Control over undersea cable infrastructure enhances national autonomy in data flows and reduces foreign dependency.
      • Critical Information Infrastructure: Designated under India’s IT Act, submarine cable failure would impact national security and economy.

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE:

• • • • Countries like Singapore have streamlined clearance and developed multiple landing stations to become global connectivity hubs.
      • The U.S. focuses on security, screening foreign ownership, and mandating stricter outage reporting.
      • Japan fosters domestic manufacturing of cables and invests in route diversification for earthquake resilience.
      • Europe and NATO focus on safeguarding undersea infrastructure against potential sabotage, reflecting heightened geopolitical tensions.

CURRENT INFRASTRUCTURE:

• • • • As of 2022, India has 17 international submarine cables landing at 14 distinct cable landing stations across five cities—Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum. Mumbai and Chennai serve as the primary hubs, with Mumbai handling approximately 95% of submarine cable traffic in a concentrated six-kilometer patch in Versova.
      • The total lit capacity and activated capacity of these cables stood at 138.606 terabits per second (Tbps) and 111.111 Tbps, respectively. In addition to international cables, India operates two domestic submarine cable systems:

1. 1. 1. 1. Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Island Cable (CANI): Connecting Port Blair to seven other islands in the Andaman & Nicobar archipelago.
         2. Kochi-Lakshadweep Island (KLI) Cable: Providing a direct communication link between Kochi and 11 islands in Lakshadweep.

UPCOMING PROJECTS:

India’s digital connectivity is set for a significant boost with three major submarine cable projects expected to launch between October 2024 and March 2025:

1. 2Africa Pearls: One of the world’s longest subsea cable systems spanning over 45,000 kilometers with a capacity of 180 Tbps, connecting 33 countries including India. This cable, with investments from Meta and Bharti Airtel, has Mumbai as a major hub.
2. India-Asia-Express (IAX): Developed by Reliance Jio, this 16,000-kilometer system will connect Mumbai to Southeast Asian hubs including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, adding over 200 Tbps of capacity.
3. India-Europe-Express (IEX): Also developed by Reliance Jio, this approximately 9,775-kilometer system will connect India to Europe via the Persian Gulf, adding another 200 Tbps of capacity.

 

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND GOVERNANCE:

Legal and Regulatory Structure

India’s submarine cable infrastructure is governed by several key legislative acts:

1. The Maritime Zones of India Act of 1976: Provides the legal framework for laying underwater cables within India’s maritime zones.
2. The Telecommunications Act of 2023: Replacing the Indian Telegraph Act of 1885, this act defines submarine cable systems, particularly those connecting India internationally.
3. Department of Telecommunications (DoT) Regulations: DoT issues International Long-Distance (ILD) licenses. ILD licensees, with prior approval from DoT, are authorized to set up their cable landing stations and lay submarine cables in India.

 

Recent Regulatory Developments

• • • • In June 2023, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) issued recommendations on the “Licensing Framework and Regulatory Mechanism for Submarine Cable Landing in India.” These recommendations proposed classifying submarine cables and Cable Landing Stations (CLS) as “Essential Services,” granting them higher protection and prioritization under national regulations.
      • The recommendations include provisions for allowing domestic traffic through submarine cables, permitting domestic submarine cables to extend beyond Indian territorial waters when required, and ensuring that Indian entities have a stake in submarine cable systems landing in India.

CHALLENGES AND VULNERABILITIES:

• • • • Regulatory and Administrative Hurdles: One of the major challenges for submarine cable deployment in India is the complex regulatory environment. Companies laying submarine cables face excessive bureaucratic requirements, needing approximately 51 permissions from various authorities, including the Department of Telecom, Home Ministry, Department of Fisheries, Environment Ministry, local municipalities, and others.
      • Lack of Domestic Repair Capabilities: India currently lacks domestic submarine cable repair capabilities, relying instead on repair vessels from Singapore and Dubai. This dependence creates substantial delays in addressing cable disruptions—repair vessels take 10-12 additional days of transit time just to reach Indian waters, and further delays occur due to permit requirements for foreign crew members.
      • Each repair costs approximately Rs 20 crore (equivalent to about $2.4 million), with 4-5 such repairs typically needed annually. The government’s own CANI and KLI submarine cable projects require a fixed maintenance cost of Rs 7 crore per year and Rs 14 crore for every cable cut.

Security and Vulnerability Concerns

Submarine cables are vulnerable to various threats, including:

1. Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, storms, and other environmental factors can damage cables.
2. Human Activities: Fishing, anchoring, dredging, and other maritime activities pose significant risks. According to Bharti Airtel’s Chief Regulatory Officer, “fishing trawlers break cables regularly”.
3. Geopolitical Risks: Recent incidents in the Red Sea damaged three submarine cables connecting India—Asia- Africa- Europe-1, Europe India Gateway, and Tata Global Network—forcing major Indian telecom operators to reroute traffic.
4. Concentrated Landing Sites: With most cables landing in Mumbai and Chennai, India is particularly vulnerable to disruptions in these areas. A disruption in the Red Sea can potentially affect up to 25% of India’s internet connectivity.

 

WAY FORWARD: STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS:

Immediate Policy Interventions

1. Streamline Regulatory Processes: Simplify and expedite the approval process for submarine cable landing and maintenance, creating a single-window clearance system to reduce bureaucratic hurdles.
2. Classify Submarine Cables as Critical Infrastructure: Designate submarine cables and landing stations as critical infrastructure under the Information Technology Act and integrate them into the Critical Information Infrastructure framework to ensure enhanced legal protections.
3. Incentivize Investment: Implement economic incentives such as lower license fees on cable landing stations, tax exemptions on cable imports, and creating separate cable corridors to attract more investments in submarine cable infrastructure.

 

Medium-Term Strategic Initiatives

1. Develop Domestic Repair Capabilities: To reduce reliance on foreign capabilities, prioritize the development of Indian-flagged vessels dedicated to submarine cable maintenance and repair. This would require an estimated investment of Rs 2,500-3,000 crore but would significantly enhance India’s cable resilience.
2. Establish Cable Protection Zones: Adopt best practices from countries like Australia by establishing Cable Protection Zones within India’s Exclusive Economic Zone to restrict high-risk activities such as fishing, anchoring, and dredging in areas with submarine cables.
3. Enhance International Partnerships: Expand cooperation beyond the Quad to engage with ASEAN, the European Union, and key private-sector players like Google, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft for co-investment opportunities, technological expertise, and collaborative security efforts.

 

Long-Term Strategic Vision

1. Diversify Landing Stations: Develop new cable landing stations beyond Mumbai and Chennai to reduce vulnerability to localized disruptions and ensure network resilience.
2. Establish India as a Regional Hub: Leverage India’s strategic geographic position to develop the country as a major hub for submarine cables connecting Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia.
3. Create a National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre: Establish a dedicated center for overseeing the security of submarine cables and managing the extra-territorial application of Indian law to address emerging vulnerabilities.

 

THE CONCLUSION: India’s undersea cable infrastructure is central to its ambitions as a digital superpower. Addressing regulatory hurdles, enhancing route diversity, and developing indigenous capabilities for repair and manufacturing will secure India’s network against geopolitical and physical risks. By combining policy reforms with strategic investments and international partnerships, India can emerge as a global connectivity hub and safeguard its digital future.

 

UPSC PAST YEAR QUESTION: Discuss the advantage and security implications of cloud hosting of server vis-a-vis in-house machine-based hosting for government businesses. 2015

 

MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION: Submarine cables are critical to India’s digital sovereignty, economic growth, and geopolitical positioning. Discuss the current status of India’s submarine cable infrastructure, its vulnerabilities, and the strategic measures required to enhance its resilience and security in the face of rising threats in the Indo-Pacific region.

 

SOURCE:

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/why-are-undersea-cables-important-explained/article69408007.ece#:~:text=Undersea%20cables%20are%20the%20main,environment%20of%20the%20sea%20floor.

 

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