August 4, 2025

The Red Sea, a strategic corridor for global internet connectivity, has recently seen escalating tensions that have raised alarm bells among Indian cable operators. With major cables such as Google’s Blue-Raman and Bharti Airtel’s 2 Africa relying heavily on this route, the geopolitical landscape is turning into a risk factor for uninterrupted data services in India. Cable operators are now under pressure to create multiple contingency plans to avoid any potential blackouts, as industry sources indicate the necessity for reinforced internet infrastructure is reaching critical status. Recent actions by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, which included attacks on shipping vessels in the Red Sea, underscore the rising threat. The rebels have previously weaponized subsea cables, using them as strategic leverage in regional conflicts, creating an environment of unpredictability. Consequently, cable operators are responding by acquiring backup options and increasing fiber pairs to maintain consistent service. Amajit Gupta, CEO of Lightstorm, which operates extensive subsea cable networks, highlighted the precariousness of existing systems, noting that even minor outages could lead to significant disruptions. Companies like Ooredoo and Zain are now considering terrestrial routes for cable laying, which would avoid the dangers of maritime jurisdiction, with its inherent instability. This shift towards land-based infrastructure is contributing to increased costs—a situation problematic for data centers and cloud providers. Among the financial implications, leasing high-capacity subsea fiber pairs can cost up to $50,000 monthly per pair on key global corridors. The rapid rise of internet demand in India adds pressure, making it an imperative for industry players to secure reliable routes. AS Lakshminarayanan of Tata Communications pointed out that submarine cable repairs in the Red Sea region often face delays due to the hostile environment. The ongoing lack of available repair ships is a pressing concern, leading to discussions about whether India should develop its own repair fleet. In early 2023, a series of cable cuts near the Bab el-Mandeb strait highlighted the vulnerabilities of the subsea ecosystem, leading to substantial internet slowdowns in several neighboring regions. Leading investors in those cable systems—including Reliance Jio, Tata Communications, and Bharti Airtel—are now focusing on constructing and supporting alternative routes to enhance reliability. Carl Grivner from FLAG, a global subsea cable operator, stated that their approach includes building partnerships to create alternative pathways, such as the Gulf European Transit Route. This initiative seeks to integrate undersea fiber with land infrastructure, providing a bypass to the Red Sea while addressing geopolitical risks. FLAG has also been active in enhancing networks, having faced past disruptions that affected internet service in 2023. The subsea cable market in India is experiencing significant growth, prompting investments across various key systems. Airtel's commissioning of the Sea-Me-We 6 cable and Reliance Jio’s upcoming India-Asia-Express and India-Europe-Express cables further cements the country's position as a growing hub in the Asia-Pacific region. As digital demand surges—a trend reflected in the projections from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai)—the global submarine communication cable sector is expected to expand significantly, with the Indian market anticipated to reach impressive milestones, affirming its key role in the future of telecommunications. As cable operators prepare for a tumultuous landscape, strategies emphasizing redundancy and overall resilience are becoming essential, as they seek to navigate this challenging terrain in the face of both economic and geopolitical pressures.

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Tags: Subsea cables, Red sea, Data center, Internet connectivity, India, Telecommunications,