India’s Undersea Cable Expansion Boosts Internet Capacity and Digital Services
India’s digital landscape is undergoing a transformation, with an ever-growing demand for internet capacity driven by the rapid adoption of smartphones and affordable data plans. To meet this increasing demand, undersea cables – the backbone of global internet connectivity – are playing a crucial role. Currently, India is connected by 18 international undersea cable systems that land in 14 stations across five key cities. Together, these cables provide a total capacity of 138.55 terabits per second (Tbps), with around 111.11 Tbps actively utilised.
As the digital economy continues to expand, the future of undersea cables looks even more promising. New projects like the 2Africa Pearls cable and the India-Europe Express (IEX) are set to significantly increase the country’s internet capacity. Initiatives from global tech giants such as Google, Meta, and Amazon are also gathering momentum, potentially turbocharging India’s internet capacity both in the short and long term. Prabhu Ram, VP of Industry Research Group at CyberMedia Research, explained that the ongoing developments in undersea cables will have far-reaching effects. “These advancements will enhance service quality across essential sectors, including education, healthcare, ecommerce, financial services, and government operations,” he said.
Submarine cables play a vital role in the global telecommunications network, carrying over 99% of all intercontinental communications traffic. According to Brian Lavallée, Senior Director of Market & Competitive Intelligence at Ciena, the digital economy operates across borders, and the demand for submarine bandwidth is expected to increase massively to keep pace with this global growth. India’s strategic location at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia further elevates its importance in the international cable network, making it a critical hub for new submarine cable routes. The rise of digital services, particularly high-definition video streaming, cloud computing, and digital commerce, has drastically increased the need for high-bandwidth, low-latency connectivity. India’s internet user base exceeds 850 million, and with the ongoing rollout of 5G networks and the rise of AI, IoT, and edge computing, the demand for reliable international connectivity has never been higher.
Harsha Ram, Head of Network Business at Sify Technologies, highlighted that India’s increasing reliance on cloud services, digital commerce, and international data exchange infrastructure has led to a surge in demand for submarine cables. Major Indian industries, including IT, fintech, and outsourcing, need seamless global connectivity to meet the needs of their international clients and operations. “Submarine cables enable these sectors to connect more efficiently with global markets, while also improving internet speeds and reducing latency,” he added. In fact, new subsea cable projects, including those from Google and Meta, are reshaping the thinking of data centre players, emphasising that data can now be stored directly in India. This shift is beneficial not only for local businesses but also for international firms operating in India, as it ensures faster, more reliable internet services.
Gaurav Babbar, Vice-President of Edge Hyperscalers & Networks at CtrlS Datacenters, noted that the significant increase in data demand is spurring growth in India’s global connectivity market. This, in turn, is leading enterprises to move their data centres to local locations, enhancing data sovereignty and security. “Hyperscalers are investing billions in establishing submarine fibre cables in India, further underlining the critical role of this market expansion,” he said.
The continued expansion of undersea cables in India is a clear sign of the country’s growing digital importance. As major global players invest in these infrastructure projects, India’s internet capacity will continue to improve, enabling faster and more reliable connectivity for businesses and consumers alike. India’s increasing reliance on digital services and the growing demand for faster, more efficient internet connectivity is driving the expansion of undersea cables. With significant investments from tech giants and government initiatives, India is positioning itself as a central hub in the global digital economy, poised to meet the connectivity needs of the future.
