MC Explains | How does the damage to undersea cables in Red Sea impact India?

undersea-cable

Several undersea fibre optic cables, which carry a significant portion of the internet traffic, were damaged in the Red Sea region last week, reportedly by Yemen-based Houthi rebels.

Telecommunication providers face a stiff challenge in ensuring quick repairs with more than 15 submarine internet cables traversing the volatile region.

The instability in Yemen, coupled with attacks from Houthi rebels, who have stepped up the offensive after the Israel-Hamas war, impede the immediate restoration efforts by operators.

Here is a low-down on what is happening in the vital waterway and what it means for telecommunication networks in India and rest of the world:

India is a strategic location for subsea cables

Who damaged the cables?

Though it wasn’t immediately clear how the cables were damaged, Yemeni government officials warned that Houthi rebels may have been behind the sabotage.

The good part is that India’s telecom companies have not reported any significant disruption in services so far.

What has been the damage?

Tata Communications, behind the Seacom-TGN-Gulf line, said it “initiated immediate and appropriate remedial actions” after the line was cut. It added that all its network backbones and protected services remain unaffected.

"Our team at Tata Communications has been keeping a close watch on the situation and initiated immediate and appropriate remedial actions," Tata Communications said in a statement to Moneycontrol. "We invest in various cable consortiums to increase our diversity and hence in such situations of a cable cut or snag we are able to automatically reroute our services, thereby ensuring our customers have a stable, reliable and scalable connectivity.”

Likewise, SEACOM, headquartered in Mauritius, confirmed cable damage, with repairs anticipated to be delayed until at least the second quarter of 2024 due to regional instability.

HGC Communications, a telecom operator based in Hong Kong, disclosed damage to four Red Sea cables—SEACOM, TGN, Africa Asia Europe-One, and Europe India Gateway—resulting in a 25 percent reduction in internet traffic. The traffic is being rerouted through China and the US.

What does the disruption of submarine cables mean?

Submarine cables, laid along the seabed, serve as conduits for global communication and data transmission, including internet traffic, telephone calls, and data exchanges.

Playing a pivotal role in global telecommunications infrastructure, these cables facilitate the dissemination of information worldwide, with nearly 99 percent of the internet traffic routed through them.

While indispensable for international communication and internet traffic, disruptions to submarine cables can lead to substantial downtime, affecting businesses, governments, and individuals.

Economic losses, stock market fluctuations, and reduced productivity may ensue, particularly in regions reliant on international trade and online commerce.

These cables are also potential targets for sabotage or espionage, necessitating vigilance from governments and security agencies.

The global network and Indian telcos

Telegeography's Submarine Cable Map depicts approximately 400 submarine cables worldwide, spanning over 1.3 million kilometers.

In India, Mumbai has about 20 subsea cables landing in the city, while Chennai has nine cables managed from cable-landing stations in both cities. Some cable systems land in both cities and many proceed to Southeast Asia.

Indian telecom giants such as Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Tata Communications play pivotal roles in the subsea cable infrastructure.

Tata Communications, for instance, participates in various international submarine cable consortiums and operates the world's largest wholly owned submarine fibrr cable network, spanning over 500,000 kilometers.

Bharti Airtel has investments in over 33 international cables globally, boasting advanced, multi-terabit capacities.

Reliance Jio has previously collaborated on the India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) and India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) undersea cable systems.

India's role in submarine cables

India's strategic location positions it as a vital hub for submarine cables connecting regions across West Asia, Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Europe, facilitating seamless connectivity between continents.

As one of the world's fastest-growing economies, India relies heavily on international communication and internet access. Submarine cables play a pivotal role in meeting this demand by providing high-speed, reliable connectivity that supports economic activities such as trade, outsourcing, and digital services. These cables also enable Indian users to access online content and services hosted abroad.

India's robust communication infrastructure, comprising extensive terrestrial fibre optics and submarine cables, forms the backbone of its international communication and data transmission network.

Moreover, submarine cables are integral to India's national security and defence communication infrastructure, providing secure channels for government agencies, defence establishments, and emergency services to coordinate and exchange information during crises or conflicts.

Disclosure: Moneycontrol is a part of the Network18 group. Network18 is controlled by Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance Industries is the sole beneficiary.