Visakhapatnam (Vizag) on the east coast of Andhra Pradesh is set to become India’s third international internet gateway after Mumbai and Chennai. Major tech firms are building new subsea cable landing stations and extensive inland fiber networks to support their data‑centre projects.
Key Developments
- Microsoft is part of a consortium with Lightstorm and Singapore’s SingTel to land the I-2SEA cable.
- Google will land its America‑India Connect system in Vizag, where it is building a large data‑centre complex.
- The terrestrial fiber corridor will connect Vizag with Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, creating a robust inland backbone.
- Google’s Vizag facility will focus on inference workloads for Indian enterprises and government agencies, with an emphasis on renewable energy procurement and water‑saving cooling.
Important Facts
• The I-2SEA cable is slated for commercial service in Q4 2029.
• Existing east‑coast cables are 8‑15 years old and nearing end‑of‑life, prompting the need for fresh capacity.
• Lightstorm plans a terrestrial link from Machilipatnam to Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai, matching the bandwidth of the new subsea links.
• Global fiber‑optic cable manufacturers face severe backlogs; even Indian producers report shortages of raw fiber and sub‑components.
Exam Relevance
These projects illustrate the intersection of digital infrastructure, strategic autonomy and environmental sustainability—key themes in GS‑3 (Economy) and GS‑4 (Environment). The emphasis on geopolitical derisking reflects India’s effort to diversify internet pathways amid tensions in West Asia, a point often examined in questions on foreign policy and security. Understanding the role of subsea cables and inland fiber networks is essential for answering questions on digital economy, data‑centre policies, and India’s push for AI adoption.
Way Forward
To maximise benefits, the government should:
- Facilitate fast clearances for landing stations and land‑based fiber projects.
- Encourage public‑private partnerships that prioritize renewable energy procurement for data‑centres.
- Develop a national roadmap for upgrading ageing east‑coast cables to avoid single‑point failures.
- Promote skill development in AI inference and data‑centre operations to harness the new infrastructure for governance and industry.
These steps will strengthen India’s digital backbone, enhance resilience against geopolitical shocks, and support the country’s AI‑driven growth agenda.