US, India Partner to Secure Undersea Cable Networks; Plan More Routes and Cable Landing Stations

The US and India are working together to improve the security and resilience of undersea cable networks, according to news reports.  

The US Embassy in India said government and industry experts from the 2 countries held an “Undersea Cables Workshop” in September. The meeting focused on subsea communication infrastructure and the risks faced by cable networks.  

The cooperation also covers the need for more routes and suppliers to reduce dependence on a limited number of networks. 

Cables Carry Most Global Traffic 

Undersea cables carry more than 95% of global digital traffic, according to the reports citing US government documents. They are used for internet connections, cloud computing, financial services, telecommunications, and data centres. 

The networks also support services and infrastructure linked to artificial intelligence. Any disruption to important cables or transit points can therefore affect several types of digital services. 

Focus on Network Disruption 

The US and India are looking at ways to make subsea cable systems less vulnerable to sabotage, cyberattacks and interception. The countries are also considering the risks linked to relying on a small number of suppliers and routes. 

The cooperation includes greater redundancy through multiple cable landing stations and different routes across the Indo-Pacific. This is intended to reduce the impact if an individual cable or landing point is disrupted. 

India’s Role in Cable Networks 

The US Embassy also referred to India’s growing digital economy, higher demand for cloud and AI infrastructure and its geographical position between major markets. 

These factors could increase India’s role in the global subsea cable network. The latest discussions also follow earlier US-India cooperation involving trusted undersea cable and satellite systems. 

Part of TRUST Initiative 

The cable partnership comes under the US-India TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technologies) initiative. The wider framework covers artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, energy and space. 

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said in May that the initiative was being used to increase cooperation in these areas. He also referred to India’s participation in Pax Silica, a US-led network covering technology ecosystems and supply chains. 

AI Infrastructure Plans 

The TRUST initiative also includes plans to work with private companies on AI infrastructure in India. Areas covered include financing, construction, power and connectivity for large-scale AI infrastructure, along with data centres, computing resources and processors. 

Read More: Government Launches DILRMP 3.0; ₹565.5 Crore Set Aside for Integrated Land Data! 

Conclusion 

The undersea cable cooperation adds digital infrastructure to the wider technology partnership between the US and India, with the focus on network security, alternative routes and reducing points of dependence. 

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