The new cable system will provide 220 Tbps of capacity and strengthen India’s digital infrastructure.
Bharti Airtel, one of the leading telecommunications operators in India, has announced the arrival of the submarine cable SeaMeWe-6 in Chennai, in the southern part of the country. This milestone marks a further step in expanding global connectivity infrastructure, featuring a link of 21,700 km connecting France to Singapore across the Red Sea and multiple landing points in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
The company highlighted that the new cable system will bring 220 Tbps of capacity to India, enhancing broadband connectivity and facilitating access to high-speed digital services. Additionally, the cable will be fully integrated with Airtel’s data center division, Nxtra by Airtel, at its facilities in Chennai and Mumbai.
A Key Advancement for India’s Digital Infrastructure
The SeaMeWe-6 cable system is designed to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure in the countries where it lands. Its Indian segment already has an established presence, as Airtel had previously landed the cable in Mumbai in late 2024.
This new infrastructure will help reinforce India’s position as a key digital hub in the Asia-Pacific region and improve the latency and stability of international connections.
“We are excited to enhance our global connectivity with one of the largest integrated submarine cable systems at our facilities,” stated Sharat Sinha, Director and CEO of Airtel Business. “This complements our network of over 400,000 km across 50 countries and underscores our commitment to India’s digital growth by ensuring new routes, greater diversity, and increased connectivity capacity.”
A Strategic Cable with Multiple Connections
SeaMeWe-6 will feature 17 landing points in 15 countries and will be operated by a consortium of major global telecommunications companies, including Microsoft, Singtel, Telekom Malaysia, China Unicom, Batelco, Telecom Egypt, and Sri Lanka Telecom, among others.
The cable will include landing stations in strategic cities such as Marseille (France), Abu Dhabi (UAE), Karachi (Pakistan), Muscat (Oman), Djibouti, and Port Said (Egypt), among others.
However, in 2023, China Mobile and China Telecom withdrew from the project due to escalating geopolitical tensions between China and the United States.
India, a Key Node in Global Connectivity
Airtel is a significant player in the global submarine cable infrastructure, with investments in 34 cable systems worldwide, including 2Africa, SJC2, and Equiano.
The Indian cities of Chennai and Mumbai play a crucial role in connecting the country with the rest of the world. Currently, Chennai hosts several cable systems such as BBG, CANI, IAX, MIST, and SeaMeWe-4, while Mumbai has 13 active submarine cables, including 2Africa, FLAG, AAE-1, MIST, and IAX, which will soon be joined by the Raman and IEX systems.
The SeaMeWe-6 is expected to become operational in 2026, providing cutting-edge infrastructure for India’s digital growth and improving its international connectivity.
via: DCD