DoT looking at framework to repair and maintain undersea cables

DoT is looking to develop a framework for repairing and maintaining undersea cables in India. The upfront cost is Rs 2,500-3,000 crore, plus the expenses related to labor, training, and cable inventory. Each repair costs Rs 20 crore, and there are 4-5 such repairs annually. With five planned projects, Google, Meta, and the telcos are interested in investing in submarine fiber cables. The companies, however, are looking at building the infrastructure with support from the government, such as setting up cable depots, Indian submarine cable repair vessels, trained crew, and skilled engineers, which entail huge costs.

India is currently dependent on marine service providers from Singapore and Dubai. 18 submarine cables land in India in cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum. The government’s Chennai to Andaman & Nicobar Islands subsea project and Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection, funded by USOF, require a fixed maintenance cost of Rs 7 crore every year and Rs 14 crore for any cable cut.
BCS Bureau