Strengthening the U.S.-India subsea cable agenda, Pg8

• India and the U.S. are enhancing cooperation on subsea cable infrastructure under the TRUST framework, a successor to iCET.

• Subsea cables carry over 95% of international internet traffic; India currently has 17 subsea cables, far fewer than Singapore’s 26.

• Most Indian cable landing stations are concentrated in Mumbai, creating vulnerability to disruptions.

• India’s strategic location between Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe gives it potential as a global digital transit hub.

• Challenges include a complex licensing regime, dependency on foreign-flagged repair ships, and delayed outage responses.

• The U.S. is investing in a 50,000-km subsea cable project (via Meta) to boost Indian Ocean connectivity.

• The subsea cable agenda is now central to India-U.S. tech diplomacy, especially in countering China’s Digital Silk Road in the Indo-Pacific.

• The TRUST framework views India as a net security provider and digital anchor in the region, promoting resilient and trusted networks.

• India’s coastline and centrality to maritime chokepoints (Strait of Hormuz, Malacca, Bab-el-Mandeb) bolster its position as a natural cable hub.

• Diversifying landing stations is critical to mitigate risks from geopolitical conflicts, natural disasters, or sabotage.

• To scale, India must streamline permissions, encourage domestic cable repair capability, and attract foreign investment in digital infrastructure.

• Subsea (Submarine) Cables: Fiber-optic cables laid on the seabed to carry global internet and communication data.

• Cable Landing Stations: Facilities where subsea cables connect to the land-based internet infrastructure.

• Redundancy in Networks: It refers to using duplicate systems, connections, or paths to ensure continued functionality even if a primary component fails.

• TRUST Framework: Technology for Resilient, Open and Unified Security and Trust – a bilateral India-U.S. framework for secure digital collaboration.

Mains Mock Question:

Discuss the strategic and commercial significance of subsea cables for India. How can India-U.S. cooperation enhance digital resilience and counterbalance China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific?