Strengthening the U.S.-India Subsea Cable Agenda

As part of the upcoming India-U.S. bilateral trade agreement, both nations have prioritised subsea cable infrastructure under the evolving TRUST framework

India-U.S. Bilateral Commercial Engagement

• Focus: India-U.S. trade relations are accelerating beyond just an imminent trade agreement.
  Both governments focus on strategic sectors and aim to diversify and de-risk technology supply chains amid global volatility.
• TRUST Initiative: The Technology for Resilient, Open and Unified Security and Trust (TRUST) framework is evolving as the successor to the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
• QUAD Summit: U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to visit India for the Quad Summit (India, Australia, Japan, U.S.) later this year. 
  • Ahead of the summit, the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement will be signed, enhancing cooperation in digital technologies and markets.

Subsea Cables

• Importance: Subsea cables carry over 95% of international data traffic, acting as the physical backbone of the global Internet.
  • These cables connect to users or data centres powering cloud services and critical infrastructure.
• China’s Initiative: China’s Digital Silk Road Initiative has rapidly expanded subsea infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the need for trusted alternatives.
• India-USA cooperation: A strong India-U.S. pledge to build resilient, secure subsea cable systems will serve as a global public good.
  • The TRUST framework recognises India as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific.
• Future Plans: Plans are underway to invest in regional subsea cable infrastructure using trusted vendors.
• India Sub Sea Cables: India hosts around 17 international subsea cables, fewer than Singapore’s 26, despite its smaller size.
• Connectivity Hub: India’s 11,098-km coastline and central Indo-Pacific location position it well to become a regional connectivity hub.
• Concentration of Cables: Most cables (15 of 17) land within a six-kilometre stretch in Mumbai, concentrated in five cities: Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Tuticorin, Thiruvananthapuram.
• Cable Repair and Maintenance: India relies on foreign-flagged cable repair ships, mostly based in Singapore and Dubai. Repair response time typically takes 3 to 5 months due to:
  • Long travel times
  • Cumbersome clearance processes involving customs, naval permissions, and crew approvals
  • These delays pose commercial and operational risks to India’s digital infrastructure.
    

Reason for Choosing India

• Strategic Location: Subsea cable routes largely follow historical maritime trade routes. India’s position between Europe, Southeast Asia, and Africa places it near key maritime choke points:
  • Strait of Hormuz
  • Strait of Malacca
  • Bab-el-Mandeb
  • This geography makes India a natural hub for global cable networks.
• Broadband Expansion: India is at the center of the fastest broadband expansion region, serving dynamic economies in Africa and Asia, including Indonesia.
• Key Junction: It acts as a key junction for nearly all Africa-Asia and Europe-Asia subsea cables.
• Connectivity: Enhanced connectivity is critical to meet surging domestic demand.
• High Growth: India’s bandwidth requirement is projected to grow at 38% between 2021 and 2028, driven by rising data consumption and increased data centre investments
• Geopolitics: The U.S. maintains an enduring policy to counter Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific.
• Digital Infra security: India’s digital infrastructure, especially subsea cables, is a frontline strategic asset. Strengthening and fortifying this infrastructure is vital in the context of regional geopolitical competition.
  

Way Forward

• Risks: Concentration in a few locations poses risks from natural calamities, human error, or sabotage.
• Wider Distribution: A wider distribution of landing stations would increase redundancy, allowing data rerouting during disruptions.
  • Example: In 2024, Houthi rebels damaged subsea cables in the Red Sea, forcing Indian operators to reroute traffic.
  • Similar damage closer to home could disrupt both domestic and international communications.
• Reform in India’s Licensing Regime: India’s licensing regime for undersea cables is complex and prohibitive. Installing and maintaining cables requires over 50 clearances from multiple Ministries. 
  • This complexity acts as a barrier to greater investment in subsea cable infrastructure.
• Role of USA; The U.S. must increase investments in critical digital infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific region. This includes:
  • Inward concessional finance
  • Technical assistance for cable route diversification and cybersecurity
    • Encouraging U.S. firms to take anchor roles in cable projects
      Example: Meta’s multi-year investment in a 50,000-kilometre subsea cable project to enhance Indian Ocean connectivity, connecting five continents (highlighted in the 2025 U.S.-India Joint Leaders’ Statement).
• Building Domestic Repair Ecosystem: Supporting the creation of a domestic subsea cable repair ecosystem is crucial. 
  • This includes Development of depot infrastructure and Promotion of Indian-flagged cable repair vessels The TRUST framework should incorporate these aspects to strengthen resilience.

Conclusion

Enhanced subsea cable cooperation will complement the broader U.S.-India trade deal currently under negotiation. The trade deal emphasizes dynamic technology cooperation between the two nations. Swift action in subsea cable infrastructure will improve regional digital resilience and advance shared strategic and commercial goals.