WhatsApp Channel Join Now
Telegram Group Join Now

Relevance: GS-III (Infrastructure: IT, Telecom); GS-II (International Relations) Source: Digital Infrastructure Updates, August 2026

1 · Context

Did you know that 99% of our global internet does not come from satellites, but through thick cables lying on the ocean floor? Historically, Mumbai and Chennai have been India’s main digital doorways. However, these older cables are filling up quickly, and traditional sea routes (like the Red Sea) are facing severe war-like tensions.
To ensure India’s internet never drops, tech giants like Google and Microsoft are building massive, backup undersea cables and green AI data centres right on the coast of Andhra Pradesh. By 2029, this state will act as India’s third major internet gateway.

2 · Securing the Internet

Step 1: The Traffic Jam
Existing undersea cables on India’s east coast are 8 to 15 years old. They are simply running out of space for our growing data needs.
▼
Step 2: The War Risk
Conflicts in the Middle East mean we cannot rely on just one sea route. We urgently need a backup plan to ensure we stay online during crises.
▼
Step 3: The New Gateway
Companies are bringing brand new cables direct from America and Singapore to land on the beaches of Visakhapatnam and Machilipatnam.
▼
Step 4: The Land Bridge
To carry this massive new data, companies are safely laying optical fibre on top of existing electric poles to reach cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai.

3 · Key Digital Terms

Subsea Cables
The Deep Sea Web
Thick optical wires resting on the ocean floor. They physically connect continents and carry almost all of our international calls and financial data.
AI Inference
Smart Computing
“Training” an AI model consumes massive electricity. “Inference” means running an already-trained AI for daily tasks, which saves energy. Google’s new centre focuses on this.
Geopolitical De-risking
The Backup Plan
Building alternate internet routes. If a war or natural disaster breaks a main cable in the Middle East, India’s digital economy will not shut down.
Terrestrial Backhaul
The Inland Highway
A subsea cable ends at the beach. Terrestrial backhaul is the land-based cable network that takes that data from the shore straight into our smartphones.

Prelims Quick Facts: Policies & Security
Infrastructure Status The IT Ministry (MeitY) has proposed giving data centres ‘Infrastructure Status’ so companies can easily get cheap bank loans to build more of them.
Essential Services (ESMA) A government proposal seeks to declare data centres as ‘Essential Services’, ensuring they are legally safe from strikes and never shut down during a crisis.
NCIIPC Protection Undersea cables are vital for national security. They are officially protected as Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) against cyber and physical attacks.
TRAI Rules The telecom regulator (TRAI) has simplified licensing rules to make it much easier for foreign tech giants to connect their sea cables to Indian shores.

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to India’s digital infrastructure, consider the following statements:

  1. Submarine cables carry the vast majority of international data traffic globally.
  2. Under current law, all data centres in India legally operate under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prevent operational halts.
  3. The National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) is the nodal agency for protecting vital digital assets from sabotage.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 1 and 3 only    (c) 2 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (b) 1 and 3 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: Over 95% of international internet and telecommunications data is carried via physical submarine optical cables.
  • Statement 2 — Incorrect (the trap): The inclusion of data centres under ESMA is currently a draft proposal by MeitY in its Data Centre Policy, not yet a passed national law.
  • Statement 3 — Correct: The NCIIPC, established under the IT Act, is the apex body mandated to secure India’s critical information infrastructure.
Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation Course

Recent Posts

Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation BATCH
Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation Course

Start Yours at Ajmal IAS – with Mentorship StrategyDisciplineClarityResults that Drives Success

Your dream deserves this moment — begin it here.