August 4, 2025

Increasing tensions in the Red Sea have made it a focal point for concerns over internet connectivity, especially for countries like India. With major subsea cable networks running through this corridor, the potential for disruptions has prompted cable operators to rethink their strategies. As incidents involving Yemeni Houthi rebels, who have targeted commercial shipping, continue to escalate, the need for backup arrangements has become more pressing. Industry insiders reveal that cable operators are not only investing in redundancies but are also purchasing double the number of fiber pairs to enhance their resilience against outages. Moreover, some companies are exploring the option of laying cables overland through sovereign territories to mitigate risks associated with maritime conflicts. According to estimates, leasing high-capacity subsea fibers can cost between $30,000 and $50,000 per month, making these decisions financially significant. The Red Sea serves as a critical junction for India’s digital infrastructure, connecting significant cable systems such as Google’s Blue-Raman, Bharti Airtel’s 2 Africa, and Reliance Jio’s India-Europe-Express. The growing cost of insuring subsea cables in the region is alarming, especially as repair vessels are facing demands to pay ransom just to operate within the area. This situation raises serious questions about the viability of current operations for companies relying on these cables. Amajit Gupta, CEO of Lightstorm, which operates a vast network of subsea cables, shared insights about the precarious nature of cable systems. He acknowledged the ongoing risks associated with cable maintenance and the increasing preference for terrestrial routes by operators like Ooredoo and Zain. Gupta’s remarks underscore a collective urgency among cable operators to devise solutions that can circumvent threats in these waters. Tata Communications’ MD, AS Lakshminarayanan, also highlighted the persistent issues faced by the industry, mentioning how regional conflicts have led to prolonged repair times after cable cuts. The lack of adequate repair vessels compounds the challenges, prompting discussions about whether India should invest in its own fleet to safeguard its subsea assets. In early 2023, several critical submarine cables experienced disruptions in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which was linked to ongoing military conflicts that resulted in decreased internet speeds across multiple regions. With key players like Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Tata Communications invested in these cables, the impact of such disruptions is far-reaching. In response to these challenges, FLAG, a global subsea cable operator, is actively seeking partnerships to create alternative underwater routes. These strategies include the Gulf European Transit Route, which is a significant multimodal initiative combining undersea and overland infrastructure. By establishing these routes, FLAG aims to reduce dependency on the Red Sea channel, presenting a forward-looking solution to a pressing issue. Significantly, this pivot in strategy is reflective of broader trends in India’s subsea cable sector, which has seen substantial growth in capacity addition over the past few years. Bharti Airtel recently launched the Sea-Me-We 6 cable system, and Reliance Jio is poised to introduce the India-Asia-Express and India-Europe-Express cables, which will bolster the country’s data capacity. Additionally, with major investments from hyperscalers in projects like Google’s Blue-Raman and Meta’s Waterworth, the landscape of India’s internet infrastructure is evolving rapidly. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) predicts continued growth for the global submarine cable market, estimating it will increase at a compounded annual growth rate of 7.2% to $40.58 billion by 2028 from $27.57 billion in 2023, with India’s market expected to be one of the fastest-growing regions. As a result, while the rise in internet usage in India presents new opportunities, the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Red Sea necessitate a reevaluation of current practices and strategies within the cable industry. Stakeholders are urged to remain vigilant and proactive in ensuring the reliability and security of subsea communication links.

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Tags: Subsea cables, Internet security, Red sea, India, Cable operators,