Source: The post Amid geopolitical tensions, India must bolster submarine cable resilience has been created, based on the article “Resilience of subsea cables” published in “Businessline” on 20th August. Amid geopolitical tensions, India must bolster submarine cable resilience.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Achievements of Indians in science & technology; indigenization of technology and developing new technology.
Context: Submarine cables underpin global digital flows, carrying 6,400 Tbps. As networks expand and reconfigure, geopolitical tensions and conflict have increased risks to seabed infrastructure. The article assesses India-linked systems, rising faults, strategic chokepoints, and practical, legal, and policy measures to strengthen resilience and recovery.
For detailed information on India is improving its undersea cable network read this article here
Role and Expansion of Subsea Cables
- Digital backbone and growth: These cables are the backbone of information flows. They are growing, expanding, and being reconfigured to meet demand.
- India’s current and planned links:?Eighteen systems connect India today, with four more proposed. IAX provides about 240 Tbps, IEX 210 Tbps, and Google-part-owned Raman offers 400 Tbps toward the Middle East and Europe.
- Next-wave scale and projects: About 500,000 km of new cables are planned, adding roughly 20,000 Tbps. Meta’s Project Waterworth will connect Australia, Brazil, India, South Africa, and the US.
Rising Risks and Repairs
- Fault causes and frequency: Ageing, ship anchors, fishing trollies, and suspected sabotage drive faults. Fifty-five major faults occurred in the last two years.
- Repair timelines and burden: Average repair takes about 55 days. One core fibre cut near Taiwan needed nearly 170 days. Repair ships cost $80–130 million and require specialised crews and tools.
- Conflict-linked incidents: Seabed warfare has resurfaced with the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Taiwan saw major cuts in early 2023; its Matsu Islands went offline. In June 2025, a Chinese captain of a Togolese-registered vessel was convicted and jailed three years for damaging Taiwan’s cables.
Strategic Chokepoints and Redundancy
- Singapore’s centrality: Over 90 carriers connect through 40 systems at Singapore, making it a vulnerable Indo-Pacific node. Seven systems link India to Singapore for regional traffic.
- Diversifying interconnection points: Carriers and system providers are seeking alternatives to Singapore. The goal is to manage any route failure through substitute interconnection points.
- Leased capacity for continuity: Most telcos lease from two or more systems. This allows rerouting when faults occur.
Technology and Operations for Resilience
- Joint repair capability: Governments and carriers can jointly support repair facilities and crews. An institutional mechanism would enable rapid recovery after failures.
- Monitoring and self-healing: Unmanned Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and self-healing cables can reduce repair time. Effective incidence reporting helps mobilise resources as soon as faults occur.
- Regional hotspots: An ORF report notes the Red Sea as a damage hotspot, largely tied to Houthi attacks on merchant vessels linked to the Gaza war.
Legal Models and India’s Policy Imperatives
- Cable protection zones: Geofenced protection zones deter intrusions. Australia’s Schedule 3A to the Telecommunications Act 1997 applies criminal penalties for wilful damage.
- Capacity-building initiatives: Australia’s DFAT has set up a Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre. It offers technical assistance and training across the Indo-Pacific.
- Steps for India: India should adopt similar protections at landing stations. Extending measures to Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep links will add resilience to national Internet infrastructure
Question for practice:
Discuss risks to submarine cable networks and measures to strengthen resilience in india
