Submarine cable networks remain vital to global digital communication. As of 2025, they carry over 6,400 Terabits per second (Tbps) and continue expanding rapidly. However, rising geopolitical tensions have made these underwater infrastructures vulnerable to damage and sabotage. Conflicts such as the Ukraine-Russia war have brought into light the strategic importance and risks to seabed cables. India is connected to the world through 18 active cable systems and four more proposed, playing a key role in global data flows.
Global Submarine Cable Infrastructure
Submarine cables stretch across oceans to connect continents. They transmit nearly all international internet and data traffic. India is linked by major systems like India Asia Xpress (IAX) with 240 Tbps capacity, India Europe Xpress at 210 Tbps, and the Raman cable system partly owned by Google with 400 Tbps. Plans include laying 500,000 km of new cables, adding about 20,000 Tbps capacity globally. Large projects such as Meta’s Project Waterworth aim to connect multiple continents including Australia, Brazil, South Africa, and the US.
Causes and Impact of Cable Faults
Cable faults are increasing due to ageing infrastructure, accidental damage by ship anchors, fishing activities, and suspected sabotage. Over the past two years, 55 major faults occurred with average repairs taking 55 days. One repair near Taiwan lasted nearly 170 days. Repairing subsea cables is complex and costly, requiring specialised ships worth $80-130 million and expert crews. Taiwan’s cables have been targeted by Chinese vessels, with legal actions taken against offenders. The Red Sea region is also a hotspot for cable damage due to conflict-related attacks.
Vulnerability and Strategic Importance
Certain cable hubs are critical for internet traffic routing. Singapore, for example, connects over 90 carriers via 40 cable systems, making it a vulnerable node in the Indo-Pacific. India has seven cables linking to Singapore, carrying data across Southeast Asia and Australasia. To reduce risks, efforts focus on diversifying interconnection points to avoid single points of failure. Strengthening alternative routes is essential for resilient data flow.
Enhancing Cable Security and Resilience
Protecting submarine cables requires international cooperation. Governments and carriers must jointly support repair facilities and crews for rapid fault recovery. Advanced monitoring using Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and self-healing cable technologies can reduce downtime. Establishing geofenced cable protection zones with intrusion detection is crucial. Australia has implemented such zones with legal penalties for damage. India is encouraged to adopt similar measures, including safeguarding intra-country cables linking mainland India with island territories like Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre offers a model for regional technical assistance and training.
Questions for UPSC:
- Taking example of submarine cable networks, discuss the strategic importance of critical infrastructure in international relations and security.
- Examine the role of technological advancements such as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles in enhancing the resilience of global communication networks.
- Analyse the impact of geopolitical conflicts on global trade and communication infrastructure. How can countries mitigate such risks?
- Discuss in the light of India’s digital connectivity, the challenges and solutions for securing undersea cable systems connecting mainland India with its island territories.
