New Undersea Cables to Boost India’s Digital Connectivity

Expansion of India’s Undersea Cable Network

India is enhancing its undersea cable network with two new systems, the India Asia Xpress (IAX) and the India Europe Xpress (IEX), set to launch in the next three months.
The IAX will connect Chennai and Mumbai with Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, while the IEX links these cities to France, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Djibouti.
These cables, over 15,000 kilometers in total length, are owned by Reliance Jio with investment from China Mobile.

Submarine cables are vital for global communications, they carry over 99% of international internet traffic.
They enable critical services such as commerce, financial transactions, government activities, digital health and education.

International Telecommunication Union (ITU)

It is a United Nations agency that coordinates global telecommunications networks and services. (ITU became a specialized agency of the United Nations in 1947).
ITU was founded in 1865 with the International Telegraph Convention. (HQ -Geneva, Switzerland).
International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience
It is a partnership between ITU and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) to improve the resilience of submarine cables.
The body is made up of 40 members from around the world, including ministers, heads of regulatory authorities and senior telecommunications experts.
India’s telecom secretary is also part of the body.