“Red sea cable cuts take a toll on Indian networks to Europe”
Context
- Internet traffic between India and Europe has been impacted due to cuts in undersea cable systems in the Red Sea.
- The affected systems—SEA-ME-WE 4 and IMEWE—connect India to Europe via West Asia.
- This is the second such disruption following similar attacks in mid-2024 linked to the ongoing conflict in the region.
About Undersea Cables
✔ Form the backbone of global internet infrastructure.
✔ Carry over 95% of international data traffic.
✔ Provide high-capacity, low-latency connections between continents.
Key Facts
- Affected Networks: Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Tata Communications among others.
- Latency Impact:
- Before disruption: 110–150 milliseconds (ms) between Europe and Mumbai.
- After disruption: 190–300 ms depending on service providers.
- Service Impact:
- No widespread outages yet; traffic rerouted through alternate cables.
- Other cables are less efficient but maintain connectivity.
- Government Response: No official comment from the Department of Telecommunications.
Background: Causes
- The Red Sea is a strategic but conflict-prone area.
- The disruptions are linked to Houthi attacks, as part of the wider geopolitical crisis in West Asia.
- This is the second disruption, after earlier cuts in mid-2024 affecting three subsea cables.
Importance of the Red Sea Cables
- Strategic Route
- Connects India, West Asia, and Europe.
- Serves as a critical data corridor for global businesses, governments, and cloud services.
- Economic Impact
- Affects intercontinental communication, digital services, and cloud infrastructure.
- Latency affects video conferencing, financial transactions, and e-commerce.
- Geopolitical Sensitivity
- Vulnerability due to conflict zones.
- Threats from militant groups and naval blockades highlight cybersecurity risks.
India’s Resilience Measures
✔ Over a dozen subsea cables landing in India.
✔ Ability to reroute traffic via alternate routes.
✔ Infrastructure redundancy limits disruption but raises cost and efficiency concerns.
Policy Challenges
- Infrastructure Security
- Need for diversified and secure submarine routes.
- Protection against conflict-driven disruptions.
- Geopolitical Risks
- Reliance on vulnerable regions like the Red Sea.
- Increased need for cooperation with naval and regional powers.
- Regulatory Gaps
- Absence of formal government statements or coordinated response plans.
Way Forward
✔ Strategic Investments
- Expand submarine cable infrastructure through alternative routes like the Mediterranean or Africa.
- Enhance cybersecurity and monitoring mechanisms.
✔ Multilateral Coordination
- Collaborate with global telecom providers and navies to secure critical infrastructure.
✔ Policy Frameworks
- Draft contingency plans and disaster recovery protocols for telecommunications.
✔ Public-Private Partnerships
- Encourage telecom companies to share resources and intelligence in times of crisis.
Conclusion
The recent disruptions in undersea cable networks in the Red Sea underscore India’s dependence on fragile global infrastructure. While redundancy and alternative routing have prevented service outages, growing geopolitical risks and conflicts in strategic regions like West Asia highlight the need for robust infrastructure security, diplomatic cooperation, and long-term policy planning to ensure uninterrupted global connectivity.
