[Answered] Strengthening the U.S.-India subsea cable agenda is crucial for enhancing digital resilience and advancing strategic-commercial goals. Analyze the implications of such infrastructure development for India’s cybersecurity, economic competitiveness, and its pursuit of robust digital connectivity in the Indo-Pacific.

Introduction

In the age of digital interdependence, subsea cables form the physical infrastructure of the global internet—carrying over 95% of intercontinental data. As India’s digital economy surges and geopolitical volatility escalates, enhancing the U.S.-India collaboration on secure subsea cable infrastructure becomes a strategic imperative. This cooperation, as reflected in the TRUST (Technology for Resilient, Open and Unified Security and Trust) framework, holds transformative potential for cybersecurity, economic growth, and regional digital connectivity.

Implications for India’s Cybersecurity

1. Critical Infrastructure Protection: Subsea cables are vulnerable to sabotage, espionage, and cyber-physical attacks, as evident in the 2024 Red Sea cable disruption allegedly caused by Houthi rebels. Diversifying cable landing points beyond Mumbai and Chennai can mitigate risks of regional disruption.
2. Strategic Autonomy in Digital Governance: Reducing dependency on foreign-flagged repair vessels and building a domestic repair ecosystem improves India’s response time and control over vital infrastructure.
3. Alignment with Trusted Global Partners: U.S.-India cooperation, under frameworks like iCET and TRUST, ensures participation in trusted global networks, countering Chinese influence through the Digital Silk Road initiative.

Boosting India’s Economic Competitiveness

1. Enabling the Data-Driven Economy: India’s data consumption is projected to grow at 38% CAGR (2021–2028). Reliable subsea connectivity supports cloud computing, fintech, AI, and digital services—key pillars of India’s digital economy.
2. Attracting Data Centre Investments: Robust international bandwidth and cable redundancy are essential to India’s ambition of becoming a global data centre hub. According to NASSCOM, India’s data centre market is expected to touch $8 billion by 2026.
3. Reducing Latency and Improving Redundancy: Better infrastructure ensures seamless global data routing, enhancing quality of service for enterprises and consumers alike.

Advancing India’s Role in Indo-Pacific Connectivity

1. Becoming a Digital Transit Hub: Located near strategic maritime chokepoints (Strait of Hormuz, Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb), India is poised to serve as a regional data highway between Europe, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
2. Supporting the Global South: Enhanced cable infrastructure enables India to serve as a digital gateway to under-connected regions in Africa and South Asia, aligning with its SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
3. Quad and G7 Partnerships: Collaborations under Quad and G7’s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) provide opportunities for joint investment and capacity-building in resilient digital infrastructure.

Conclusion

The U.S.-India subsea cable agenda is more than a technological collaboration—it is a strategic commitment to building a secure, inclusive, and competitive digital future. By expanding its undersea cable infrastructure, India enhances its cybersecurity posture, unlocks economic potential, and assumes leadership in Indo-Pacific digital connectivity. As digital geopolitics intensifies, swift reforms, investment in cable repair infrastructure, and facilitation of private sector partnerships will be key to realising this shared vision.