Undersea cable disruptions expose India’s crucial telecom vulnerability

Subject: Science

Section: Awareness in IT

Context:

Three critical undersea cables, namely Asia-Africa-Europe-1, Europe India Gateway, and Tata Global Network, which connect India to the global telecom networks, have suffered damages which are speculated to be the result of targeted attacks amidst the ongoing conflict in the Red Sea region.

Submarine Communication Cable:

These are strategically placed on the ocean floor, connecting land-based stations to facilitate the transmission of telecommunication signals across vast bodies of water.
Utilizing fibre-optic technology, these cables contain optical fibres that are encased in protective materials designed to withstand the harsh conditions of the marine environment.
Offering a dependable, cost-effective, and high-capacity solution for internet connectivity, submarine cables present significant advantages over satellite alternatives.

India’s undersea cable network:

India boasts a robust submarine cable network, with 17 cables making landfall at 14 different cable landing stations, predominantly in Mumbai and Chennai, as part of its ongoing efforts to bolster undersea connectivity.
To streamline and improve data transmission while decreasing dependency on international service providers, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has implemented new regulations.
These classify Cable Landing Stations (CLS) into two categories:Main CLS and CLS Point of Presence, aimed at enhancing data flow.
Further, TRAI has put forth recommendations to acknowledge the operations of submarine cables as essential services. It has suggested changes to legislation and proposed tax exemptions for critical equipment, including exemptions from customs duty and GST.
Notable submarine cable projects include:
- The MIST Submarine Cable System establishes links between India and countries like Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
- Reliance Jio Infocomm’s India Asia Xpress (IAX) creates direct connections from India to the Maldives, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
- The India Europe Xpress (IEX) spans from India to Italy through Saudi Arabia and Greece.
- The SeaMeWe-6 project connects Singapore to France with stops in India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives.
- The Africa2 Cable links India to the UK through various African nations.

Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI):

TRAI is a regulatory body set up by the Government of India under section 3 of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act, 1997.
It is the regulator of the telecommunications sector in India.
It consists of a chairperson and not more than two full-time members and not more than two part-time members.
The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal to take over the adjudicatory and dispute functions from TRAI.

Source: TH