India Joins International Initiative to Strengthen Global Submarine Cable Network

New Delhi: In a major step toward bolstering the resilience of global submarine telecommunications cables, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) have jointly launched the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience.

This body aims to address challenges posed by ageing infrastructure, growing environmental threats, and increasing global traffic while ensuring the protection of vital communication channels.

Submarine Cables: A Critical Backbone

Submarine cables, the backbone of global communication, carry approximately 99% of internet traffic and support key services in commerce, finance, government operations, digital health, and education.

However, they remain vulnerable to damage, with an estimated 150-200 faults occurring annually due to factors like fishing, anchoring, natural disasters, and equipment failure.

Composition and Role of the Advisory Body

The 40-member advisory body includes ministers, regulatory heads, and telecom experts from across the globe, offering a diverse and inclusive perspective. Members from small island nations to large economies will collaborate to:

• Promote best practices for improving cable resilience.
• Minimize risks of damage.
• Ensure swift repair and deployment of submarine cable systems.
• Address challenges related to ageing infrastructure, environmental hazards, and increasing data traffic.

The body will meet biannually, with its inaugural virtual meeting scheduled for 12th December 2024. A physical meeting will follow in February 2025 during the Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Advisory Body will be co-chaired by H.E. Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, and Prof. Sandra Maximiano, Chair of Portugal’s National Communications Authority (ANACOM).

India’s Key Role in Submarine Cable Infrastructure

India is a critical player in the global submarine cable network, hosting 17 international subsea cables across 14 landing stations in cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum. By the end of 2022:

• The total lit capacity of these cables was 138.606 Tbps.
• The activated capacity stood at 111.111 Tbps.

Prominent Indian telecom operators contributing to the submarine cable ecosystem include:

• Tata Communications operates five cable landing stations in Mumbai, Chennai, and Cochin.
• Global Cloud eXchange (formerly Reliance Globalcom), with stations in Mumbai and Trivandrum.
• Reliance Jio, managing stations in Chennai and Mumbai, and spearheading new projects.
• Bharti Airtel has been involved in SEA-ME WE 6 and 2Africa/EMIC-1 cables with stations in Mumbai and Chennai.
• Sify Technologies and BSNL, supporting various cable operations.
• IOX, planning a new cable landing station in Puducherry.

Representing India in the Advisory Body is Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), who will contribute to shaping policies and practices for strengthening submarine cable resilience.

The formation of this advisory body marks a pivotal step in safeguarding the infrastructure that powers the global digital economy. Through international cooperation, robust policies, and technological innovation, the initiative aims to secure uninterrupted connectivity and support critical services worldwide.

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