Context

• In an era of increasing geopolitical volatility and digital dependency, the partnership between India and the United States has grown into a critical pillar for technological collaboration and economic engagement.
• While much attention is focused on the prospects of a bilateral trade agreement, a more nuanced and strategically vital dimension is emerging: the development of resilient subsea cable
• These undersea systems form the backbone of global internet traffic, and enhancing their security and capacity represents not only a bilateral imperative but a global public good.

India-U.S. Engagement Beyond Trade and the Strategic Infrastructure of Subsea Cables

• India-U.S. Engagement Beyond Trade
  • The accelerating India-U.S. partnership spans multiple fronts, particularly in strategic and technological sectors.
  • A central initiative in this realm is the TRUST (Technology for Resilient, Open and Unified Security and Trust) framework, an evolution of the earlier iCET (U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology).
  • This framework underlines the shared commitment to diversify and de-risk digital supply chains.
  • As President Donald Trump’s expected visit to India for the upcoming Quad Summit approaches, the anticipated signing of the initial tranche of a trade agreement signals deeper cooperation in digital markets.
• Subsea Cables: Strategic Infrastructure
  • Subsea cables, which carry over 95% of global internet traffic, have emerged as a strategic focus in this digital partnership.
  • Once these cables land ashore, they either connect directly to users or interface with data centres that power cloud computing and critical services.
  • In this context, the rise of China’s Digital Silk Road and its aggressive expansion of subsea infrastructure underscores the need for trusted alternatives.
  • Strengthening India-U.S. collaboration on secure and resilient cable networks becomes essential for maintaining the integrity of global digital infrastructure.

India’s Geostrategic Potential

• India holds unique advantages in the development of subsea infrastructure.
• Despite having a 11,098-kilometre-long coastline and a central location in the Indo-Pacific, India is home to only 17 operational subsea cables, fewer than Singapore, a city-state with 26.
• Moreover, 15 of these cables converge at a narrow six-kilometre stretch in Mumbai, exposing the network to considerable risk from natural disasters, sabotage, or technical failure.
• Distributing cable landing stations more evenly along India’s vast coastline would increase redundancy, ensuring the continued flow of data even in the event of regional disruptions.
• India’s proximity to major maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca, and Bab-el-Mandeb further reinforces its potential as a global digital transit hub.
• With growing bandwidth demand, expected to rise by 38% between 2021 and 2028, enhanced connectivity is vital not just for regional outreach but also to meet India’s expanding domestic needs.

Challenges and Recommendations

• Regulatory Bottlenecks and Bureaucratic Complexity
  • One of the most pressing issues is India’s convoluted licensing regime for undersea cable deployment.
  • Laying or repairing a cable currently requires upwards of 50 clearances from multiple ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Telecommunications, Ministry of Defence, and local port authorities.
  • This fragmented and time-consuming process discourages investment and delays infrastructure development.
  • India must institute a single-window clearance mechanism that consolidates all necessary approvals under one regulatory framework.
  • Additionally, digitising and standardising the application and monitoring process would increase transparency and reduce time delays.
  • A clear and time-bound Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) could be developed to streamline interactions between public and private stakeholders.
• Dependence on Foreign-Flagged Repair Vessels
  • India lacks a domestic fleet of cable repair ships. Currently, it relies heavily on foreign-flagged vessels based in Singapore and Dubai.
  • These ships often take three to five months to respond to cable outages due to long travel distances, customs processes, naval permissions, and crew approvals.
  • The result is a major vulnerability: a single disruption can jeopardize national and international communications for extended periods.
  • India should prioritise the development of its own cable repair fleet, registered under the Indian flag, and establish regional cable maintenance depots along its coast.
  • This would drastically reduce response times and enhance operational sovereignty over vital infrastructure.
  • Government incentives or public-private partnerships could support initial capital expenditure and ship acquisition.
• Infrastructure Concentration and Geographic Risk
  • As of now, 15 of India’s 17 international subsea cables land within a six-kilometre stretch in Mumbai.
  • This extreme concentration creates a single point of failure, particularly susceptible to natural disasters, human error, or even sabotage.
  • The limited number of cable landing stations also limits the capacity for load-sharing and rerouting during outages.
  • India must diversify its landing stations across its 11,000-km coastline. Potential new hubs include Visakhapatnam on the east coast, Kandla in Gujarat, and Paradip in Odisha.
  • Diversification would improve resilience by increasing redundancy in the network, allowing seamless data flow even during regional failures.
  • Additionally, regional governments could be involved in incentivising infrastructure projects through tax benefits and land grants.
• Investment Barriers and Limited Private Participation
  • The current investment climate for subsea infrastructure is marred by uncertain returns, high capital costs, and a lack of long-term policy clarity.
  • Moreover, domestic private sector participation remains low, partly due to regulatory risk and lack of concessional finance options.
  • The Indian government should work with development finance institutions and sovereign partners like the U.S. to offer concessional loans, guarantees, and blended finance options.
  • Clear policy frameworks and predictable regulatory regimes will also attract long-term investors.
  • The creation of a dedicated Digital Infrastructure Fund to support subsea and terrestrial backbone projects would be a step in the right direction.
• Cybersecurity and Trust Deficits
  • As subsea cables also carry sensitive data, their vulnerability to interception or sabotage poses serious national security risks.
  • With the rise of geopolitical tensions—particularly with the backdrop of China's Digital Silk Road initiative, ensuring the integrity and security of cable networks has become essential.
  • India and the U.S. should jointly develop cybersecurity protocols, risk assessment frameworks, and encryption standards under the TRUST framework.
  • Collaborative training programs, intelligence-sharing mechanisms, and joint drills could also prepare both nations for emergency responses to cyber or physical threats to undersea infrastructure.

Conclusion

• The strengthening of subsea cable infrastructure represents a foundational step in consolidating the India-U.S. strategic partnership.
• As digital resilience becomes increasingly synonymous with national security, the importance of reliable and diversified subsea systems cannot be overstated.
• With its geographical advantage, growing digital economy, and strategic alignment with the United States, India is poised to become a central node in the global internet ecosystem.
• Prompt action on regulatory reform, infrastructure investment, and bilateral cooperation will not only safeguard digital flows but also advance the broader strategic and commercial interests of both nations.