In short :
Context: India–US tech ties deepen under the TRUST framework, building on iCET
Goal: Secure digital infrastructure & supply chain de-risking in the Indo-Pacific
Strategic Context :
- India and the US are accelerating cooperation across trade, digital technologies, and supply chain resilience.
- A new framework – TRUST (Technology for Resilient, Open and Unified Security and Trust) – is being developed, succeeding the earlier iCET (Initiative on Critical & Emerging Technologies).
- A bilateral trade agreement is expected ahead of the Quad Summit hosted in India later this year.
Focus on Subsea Cable Infrastructure :
- Subsea cables carry 95%+ of global internet data and are now seen as critical digital infrastructure.
- China’s Digital Silk Road has rapidly expanded its subsea network, prompting India–US collaboration to ensure trusted, secure digital pathways.
India’s Current Subsea Landscape :
- India hosts 17 subsea cables, compared to Singapore’s 26, despite India’s larger size and digital economy.
- Most cable landing stations are concentrated in five cities (Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi, Tuticorin, Thiruvananthapuram).
Problem: Overconcentration → high risk from disruptions (e.g., natural disasters, cyber sabotage, like the 2024 Red Sea cable damage by Houthi rebels).
Bandwidth demand projected to grow 38% (2021–2028)
India’s Strategic Advantage :
Located near major maritime chokepoints:
- Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandeb, Strait of Malacca
- Potential to become a digital transit hub for Africa–Asia and Europe–Asia traffic
Barriers to Growth :
- Subsea cable deployment needs 50+ clearances across ministries
- India lacks domestic cable repair vessels and depends on foreign-flagged ships (often based in Singapore or Dubai)
- Delays of 3–5 months for cable repair due to slow clearance processes
Role of the US :
- Support with concessional finance, technical assistance, and anchor investments
- Example: Meta’s 50,000 km Indian Ocean cable project (announced in Feb 2025 India–US Joint Leaders’ Statement)
Proposal to strengthen India’s domestic cable repair ecosystem under TRUST framework
| SUBSEA CABLESWhat Are Subsea (Submarine) Cables? Definition: Submarine cables are fibre-optic cables laid on the ocean floor that enable global internet and telecommunications connectivity. Scale: As of early 2025, there are 600+ active and planned cables, spanning over 1.48 million kilometres worldwide. How Do They Work? Fibre-Optic Technology: Data is transmitted as light pulses through ultra-thin glass fibres, using high-speed lasers. Signal Reception: At the receiving end, photo detectors decode the light signals into digital data (internet, voice, video). Seabed Installation: Near coastlines: cables are buried underground to prevent damageIn deep sea: they are laid directly on the seabed Routing Strategy: Cables are mapped to avoid seismic fault lines, shipping lanes, fishing zones, and anchor points to reduce risk of disruption. Transmission Capacity: Each cable can transmit hundreds of terabits per second (Tbps), powering high-speed global data flow.  |
| UPSC Relevance GS2 – International RelationsIndia–US strategic tech partnership, QUAD dynamics, and digital geopolitics, Role of India as a net security provider in the Indo-Pacific GS3 – Science & Technology / InfrastructureImportance of critical digital infrastructure (subsea cables, data centres), Supply chain de-risking, cybersecurity, and digital sovereignty Possible Mains Question “Subsea cables are the silent backbone of the global internet. Discuss India’s potential and challenges in becoming a digital connectivity hub in the Indo-Pacific.” |