India’s Internet Boom Has an Undersea Cable Weakness
Simran Mishra
India’s Internet Runs on Cables Beneath the Sea - Almost all intercontinental digital communication relies on submarine cables. For India, these cables carry international internet traffic linking the country with Europe, Africa, West Asia and Asia.
Too Much Traffic Is Concentrated Near Mumbai - At least 13 of India’s 18 intercontinental submarine cables land within about six kilometres of Mumbai’s Versova coast. This landing zone carries a major share of India’s international bandwidth.
India Uses Huge Amounts of Data - India’s broadband base crossed 1.06 billion subscribers in March 2026. Wireless data usage also rose from 73,324 PB to 77,953 PB in one quarter, showing how quickly demand is growing.
Some Cables Are Getting Old - Around 11 of India’s 18 international cable systems are more than 20 years old, putting some close to their typical design life. Older infrastructure can add pressure as AI, cloud and video traffic grow.
India Has No Domestic Cable Repair Fleet - India does not currently have an Indian-flagged, Indian-owned or India-stationed submarine cable repair vessel. Repairs therefore depend on specialised foreign operators and ships.
A Cable Cut Can Cause Wider Problems - A cable fault does not automatically shut down India’s internet. Traffic can often move through other routes. But multiple cuts, congested alternatives or delays in repairs can lead to slower international connections and higher latency.
Red Sea Routes Add Another Risk - Several important international routes pass through areas such as the Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz. Damage in these regions can force traffic to take longer or more congested routes, adding pressure to global connectivity.
New Routes Could Reduce the Pressure - New cable projects are expanding connectivity beyond Mumbai. The I-2SEA system will connect India with Malaysia and Singapore, with planned landings at Machilipatnam and South Chennai. It is targeted to become operational in 2029.
India Still Needs More Repair Capacity - TRAI has previously recommended exploring Indian-flagged repair vessels and cable depots on both the eastern and western coasts. More landing sites, newer cables and faster repair systems could add resilience.