Strengthening the U.S.-India Subsea Cable Agenda

Strengthening the U.S.-India Subsea Cable Agenda

Why in News?

As bilateral cooperation between India and the United States accelerates across multiple fronts, both countries are now focusing on an increasingly strategic asset: subsea cables. These cables, which carry over 95% of international data traffic, are now seen as critical infrastructure. The growing collaboration on subsea cable infrastructure aims to reduce dependence on adversarial nations, improve digital resilience, and advance shared commercial goals.

Introduction

India and the U.S. are expanding cooperation on digital infrastructure under strategic frameworks such as the Technology for Resilient, Open and Unified Security and Trust (TRUST) and the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). With India’s President expected to visit the U.S. later this year, the countries are poised to sign agreements solidifying their commitment to shared technological advancement. Subsea cables, the invisible backbone of the global internet, are at the core of this effort.

Key Developments and Issues

1. Subsea Cables as Public Good

   • Subsea cables are critical for global data exchange, and a resilient subsea infrastructure is key to national security.

   • The U.S.-India TRUST framework positions India as a crucial partner in advancing digital infrastructure that is secure and diversified.

2. India’s Current Limitations

   • India has 17 subsea cables, with a few more under construction, but they mostly land in just five cities: Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Tuticorin, and Thiruvananthapuram.

   • 15 of the 17 cables converge on a six-kilometre stretch in Mumbai, making the system vulnerable to natural disasters, sabotage, or errors.

3. Need for Redundancy and Spread-Out Landing Points

   • Distributed landing stations can reduce network fragility and improve rerouting capacity.

   • A 2024 incident involving damaged subsea cables in the Red Sea forced Indian operators to reroute traffic, highlighting the urgent need for domestic diversification.

4. India’s Role as a Global Transit Hub

   • India is strategically located near key maritime chokepoints (Strait of Hormuz, Strait of Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb), positioning it to become a major transit hub for global cable routes.

   • Enhanced connectivity would not only serve growing demand across Asia and Africa but also reduce dependence on other repair hubs like Singapore and Dubai.

5. Challenges to Reform and Investment

   • Licensing and permissions for undersea cables remain slow and cumbersome in India.

   • Cable projects must navigate up to 50 approvals from multiple ministries.

   • India relies on foreign-flagged vessels for subsea repair, which introduces delays.

   • The U.S. calls for reforms and deeper investment in the Indo-Pacific digital infrastructure.

Five Key Takeaways

1. Subsea cables are essential for over 95% of global internet data exchange and are now treated as strategic infrastructure.

2. India’s heavy cable concentration in five cities increases vulnerability to disruptions.

3. A spread-out cable landing network would enhance India’s digital resilience.

4. India’s geography makes it a natural global cable transit hub.

5. Both India and the U.S. need to ease regulatory barriers and invest in local subsea infrastructure and cable repair ecosystems.

Challenges and the Way Forward

Challenges:

• Delays due to slow clearances and complex customs processes.

• Heavy reliance on foreign repair hubs and vessels.

• Vulnerability due to concentration of cables in limited areas.

• High costs and licensing hurdles for private players.

Way Forward:

• Simplify and fast-track clearance procedures for subsea cable projects.

• Develop Indian-flagged repair vessels and domestic cable landing depots.

• Promote investment through public-private partnerships and inward concessional finance.

• Anchor U.S.-India cooperation under TRUST and iCET frameworks to boost digital trust and security.

Conclusion

As data becomes the currency of the digital age, subsea cable infrastructure is gaining strategic importance. With India’s unique location and growing digital economy, a partnership with the U.S. to build a resilient, secure, and diversified subsea network can not only safeguard national interests but also position India as a leading digital transit hub for the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Q&A Section

1. Why are subsea cables important in U.S.-India relations now?
They carry over 95% of international data, and strengthening them aligns with shared goals of digital security, economic growth, and strategic resilience.

2. What is the TRUST framework?
It stands for Technology for Resilient, Open and Unified Security and Trust, a U.S.-India initiative aimed at enhancing cooperation on secure digital infrastructure.

3. What are the vulnerabilities in India’s current subsea cable system?
Most cables land in just five cities, and a large number converge in Mumbai, increasing risks of disruption from natural disasters, sabotage, or accidents.

4. How can India become a global subsea cable hub?
With its central location in the Indo-Pacific and proximity to key maritime routes, India can serve as a transit and connectivity hub for cable networks between Europe, Africa, and Asia.

5. What reforms are needed to support this agenda?
India must ease licensing and approvals, invest in domestic cable repair infrastructure, and partner with the U.S. on tech-driven digital security.