submarine cables

The issue of securing submarine cables is increasingly being recognized as a sovereign imperative in today's data-driven world. Subsea cables are crucial infrastructure for global communications, financial transactions, and national security. Their strategic importance is growing as geopolitical tensions and digital economies intertwine, making these cables not just economic lifelines but also critical to national defense and cyber sovereignty.

Insights on Undersea Cables and India's Challenges:

Global Overview of Submarine Cables:

• Submarine cables account for over 99% of global internet traffic, making them essential for the global economy, supporting an estimated $10 trillion in financial transactions every day.

• Over 575 active cable systems span more than 1.4 million kilometers of ocean floor, connecting continents and enabling the flow of information globally.

• Asia-Pacific holds the largest market share (38.6%) for submarine cables, and the global Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) for these systems is projected at 5.6% from 2025–2030.

Ownership & Infrastructure:

• Global Tech Giants like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Microsoft own and control large portions of the undersea cable infrastructure, especially between the United States and key parts of the world.

• China is also expanding its dominance through its Digital Silk Road, pushing for control over global digital routes through its state-owned entities like China Telecom, China Unicom, and Huawei Marine.

• India, with just 14 cable landing stations (CLSs), faces significant infrastructure gaps compared to other nations. Despite having 17 international subsea cables, India’s dependence on foreign vessels for laying and repairing cables puts its digital infrastructure at risk.

Vulnerabilities and Challenges for India:

1. Geopolitical Risks:

   • Critical chokepoints such as the Luzon Strait and the Malacca Strait are vulnerable to disruption in times of conflict or crisis. These straits are essential routes for global data transmission.

   • India suffers around 8–9 cable cuts annually, with repair costs ranging between ₹15–20 crore per incident.

   • India’s reliance on foreign cable repair vessels exposes it to delays of 10–12 days, affecting response times and increasing vulnerabilities.

2. Security Risks:

   • Cables are susceptible to both physical sabotage and cyber espionage. Countries like China and Russia are known to have strategic interests in undersea cables, further complicating security concerns.

   • The current legal framework in international waters is insufficient. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides guidelines but lacks enforcement, especially when state-sponsored actors are involved.

3. Strategic Importance:

   • India’s internet connectivity heavily depends on these cables, especially those landing in Mumbai and Chennai, which handle sensitive government communications, financial transactions, and military data.

   • The vulnerability of these cables to disruptions can have wide-reaching consequences on national cybersecurity and economic stability.

Way Forward: Strategic and Legal Overhaul

Expanding Domestic Capabilities:

• India needs to expand its own cable repair fleet. Public sector shipyards should focus on developing cable repair vessels to reduce dependence on foreign providers, which will help mitigate delays and vulnerabilities.

• Investment in tamper-proof designs and advanced encryption of subsea cables should be prioritized to improve the security of these critical assets.

• India’s subsea cable infrastructure should be expanded at least 10x to meet the rising demand for digital services, as recommended by TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).

Legal and Regulatory Measures:

• India should amend its maritime laws to regulate submarine cable activities in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

• Designating undersea cables as Critical Information Infrastructure under the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) will help in enhancing protection protocols.

Strengthening Monitoring and Defense:

• India must utilize space-based assets and naval resources to monitor and track foreign or suspicious vessels operating in sensitive subsea cable routes, especially in the Indian Ocean.

• Investment in underwater sensors, drones, and cable monitoring systems should be prioritized through initiatives like iDEX (Innovative Defence Excellence) to improve real-time surveillance and damage detection.

Building Strategic Redundancies:

• Developing redundant cable routes and new cable corridors will reduce the risk of a single point of failure.

• Collaborating with friendly navies—especially through frameworks like the QUAD (India, Japan, Australia, and the US)—will allow for joint patrols and more robust protection of undersea cables.

National Framework for Cable Security:

• India must establish a National Submarine Cable Security Framework with the National Security Council Secretariat at the helm, integrating the Navy, Coast Guard, and private operators for better coordination.

• A National Cable Surveillance Program using autonomous underwater vehicles and satellite systems should be developed to monitor the health of cables in real-time and provide early warning systems for any disruptions or attacks.

Creating a Maritime Cyber Command:

• A specialized unit, merging expertise in cybersecurity, defense, and telecom, should be set up to handle both cyber and physical threats to undersea cables and ensure a cohesive response.

Conclusion:

As digital economies grow, undersea cables will continue to play a vital role in global connectivity and security. For India, the urgency of securing its subsea cable infrastructure is paramount. It is not only about ensuring uninterrupted internet services but also about safeguarding national sovereignty in a digitally connected world.