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Thu, 03 Sep 2026

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 Is India's internet boom running into an undersea problem?

At least 13 of India's 18 intercontinental cables come ashore within six kilometres of Mumbai's Versova beach.
1. India's internet infrastructure is fragile: The country relies heavily on submarine cables for international connectivity, but these cables are vulnerable to damage from ships, anchors, or underwater vehicles. 2. Lack of landing stations: India has only a few submarine cable landing stations, which makes the country dependent on a single point of failure in Mumbai. 3. Bureaucratic hurdles: The government involves 16 agencies across various ministries in clearing the construction, operation, and repair of subsea cables, leading to delays and complexity. 4. Need for predictability and speed: Experts recommend creating a single-window system to speed up repair-vessel permits, pre-identifying cable landing sites, and standardizing conditions for cable companies. 5. Technology can help: Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology can detect vibrations from ships or underwater vehicles, potentially identifying threats before a cable is severed. 6. New submarine cables are being commissioned: Four new systems are being launched, with three more planned, which will add diversity to existing routes and reduce reliance on Mumbai. To become a regional cable hub, India needs: 1. Predictable regulation 2. Open infrastructure 3. Rapid repair mechanisms The article concludes that while India is making progress in building new submarine cables, its internet infrastructure remains fragile, and the country must prioritize developing its own repair capacity and reducing bureaucratic hurdles to ensure reliable international connectivity.