Airtel Adds Big Internet Speed to India with New Underwater Cable

Airtel has brought a new underwater internet cable to Chennai. This cable adds a lot of speed, 220 terabits per second, to India's internet. It will help people and businesses connect better to the rest of the world online.
By Newsroom | Technology, India |

A recent development has seen Bharti Airtel, a major Indian telecommunications provider, land a new subsea cable in Chennai. This action is reported to have added 220 terabits per second (Tbps) of global capacity to India's network, a move that aims to support the nation's escalating demand for digital connectivity. The new cable, known as SEA-ME-WE 6, is a substantial infrastructure project connecting India to Singapore and France.

Network Expansion and Digital Demand

India's reliance on digital infrastructure, particularly for internet access, is growing. A significant portion of this reliance has historically depended on content stored locally in data centers. Undersea cables act as the crucial link between Indian networks and the broader global internet.

  • Airtel has stated its role as one of the primary investors in these undersea cables.

  • These cables are essential for connecting Indian networks to the global internet.

  • Currently, the majority of these cables connect to India at Mumbai and Chennai, with bandwidth then distributed across the country.

The SEA-ME-WE 6 Project

The SEA-ME-WE 6 cable is a lengthy optical fibre submarine cable system, spanning approximately 21,700 kilometers. Its route connects India to Singapore and Marseille, France, with a terrestrial segment traversing Egypt.

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Airtel says it added 220 Tbps to India subsea cable bandwidth - 1

  • The landing of the SEA-ME-WE 6 cable in Chennai signifies a key step in its operationalization.

  • This new cable system is expected to deliver 220 Tbps of global capacity to India.

  • Airtel has invested in the core of this cable and has also co-developed a private network of four fiber pairs linking Singapore, Chennai, and Mumbai.

Airtel's Global Subsea Network

This addition to Airtel's infrastructure is part of a larger, established global network. The company highlights its presence across five continents and its involvement in numerous other subsea cable systems.

  • Airtel's global subsea network investments include systems such as:

  • i2i Cable Network (i2icn)

  • Europe India Gateway (EIG)

  • IMEWE

  • SEA-ME-WE-4

  • AAG

  • Unity

  • EASSy

  • Gulf Bridge International (GBI)

  • Middle East North Africa Submarine Cable (MENA Cable)

  • These existing cables connect India to regions including Asia-Pacific (APAC), Europe, the Middle East, and the United States.

Implications for India's Digital Infrastructure

The introduction of an additional 220 Tbps of capacity through the SEA-ME-WE 6 cable is intended to address the increasing demand for global connectivity and data transfer within India.

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  • This enhancement is presented as a move to meet the growing needs of Digital India.

  • It offers additional routes and increased capacity for data flow.

  • The Mumbai and Chennai landing points are strategic for distributing this enhanced bandwidth.

Broader Context of India's Subsea Capacity

While Airtel's announcement focuses on its contribution, it also provides context for India's overall subsea cable capacity. Reports suggest India's total capacity on such cables exceeds 400 Tbps.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Airtel do?
Airtel brought a new underwater internet cable to Chennai, India. This cable makes the internet much faster for the country.
Q: How much faster is the internet?
The new cable adds 220 terabits per second of speed. This is a very large amount of speed.
Q: Why is this important for India?
India needs more internet speed because more people and businesses are using the internet. This cable helps connect India better to the rest of the world online.