{"id":34081,"date":"2024-12-21T18:44:12","date_gmt":"2024-12-21T13:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=34081"},"modified":"2024-12-21T18:44:14","modified_gmt":"2024-12-21T13:14:14","slug":"india-growing-undersea-cable-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/21-12-2024\/india-growing-undersea-cable-network","title":{"rendered":"India\u2019s Growing Undersea Cable Network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Syllabus: GS3\/ Infrastructure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • The launch of India Asia Xpress (IAX) and India Europe Xpress (IEX) undersea cables<\/strong> significantly expands India’s connectivity to Asia and Europe, reflecting the country’s growing data usage and digital ambitions.\n
      \n
    • IAX: <\/strong>Connects Chennai and Mumbai with Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • IEX: <\/strong>Connects Chennai and Mumbai with France, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Djibouti.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      What are Undersea\/ Submarine Cable?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • Fibre optic cables<\/strong> laid on the ocean floor to connect countries globally for internet and telecommunications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • These cables form the backbone of global digital infrastructure.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Laid using specially modified ships designed for this purpose<\/strong>. The process involves precise planning to avoid obstacles and ensure durability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Carry approximately 99% of the world\u2019s international internet traffic<\/strong>, making them indispensable for global communication.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Recognized as \u201ccritical communication infrastructure\u201d<\/strong> by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in 2010.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • These cables face threats from fishing, anchoring, natural events like earthquakes and tsunamis, and occasional damage by marine animals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

        Significance of India’s Expanding Undersea Cable Network<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
          \n
        • Geopolitical Significance: <\/strong>These expansions are not just about increasing bandwidth but also about strategic positioning and strengthening India’s presence in the Indo-Pacific region.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Security and Resilience:<\/strong> India is taking a more proactive role in discussions around submarine cable security, recognizing the vulnerability of these critical infrastructure assets to both physical damage and cyberattacks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
        • Emerging Player: <\/strong>India is becoming a major player in the undersea cable network, particularly in the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

          Connectivity Concerns<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
            \n
          • Disruptions:<\/strong> Recent disruptions to undersea cables have highlighted the vulnerability of internet connectivity and the need for redundancy and alternative routes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Choke Points: <\/strong>The reliance on the Malacca Strait as a major transit point for cables creates a potential vulnerability. Exploring alternative routes is crucial.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Domestic Resilience: <\/strong>India is also focusing on strengthening domestic connectivity to ensure that services can be maintained even in the event of international disruptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
            What are Optical Fibers?<\/strong>
            – They are incredibly thin strands of very pure glass or plastic. They transmit information in the form of light pulses.
            How do they work?<\/strong>
            – They work on the principle of Total Internal Reflection (TIR). An optical fiber has a central core surrounded by a cladding layer. The core has a slightly higher refractive index than the cladding.
            – When light enters the core at a certain angle, it keeps bouncing off the cladding due to TIR, traveling down the fiber with minimal loss.

            \"Optical


            Advantages of Optical Fibers<\/strong>
            – High Bandwidth: <\/strong>They can carry a huge amount of data compared to traditional copper wires.
            – Low Signal Loss:<\/strong> Light signals travel with very little loss over long distances.
            – Fast Transmission:<\/strong> Data transmission is incredibly fast due to the speed of light.
            – No Interference:<\/strong> Optical fibers are immune to electromagnetic interference, ensuring signal integrity.
            Applications<\/strong>
            – Telecommunications: <\/strong>The backbone of high-speed internet and phone networks.
            – Medical Imaging:<\/strong> Used in endoscopes to see inside the body.
            – Data Centers: <\/strong>Connect servers and storage devices.
            – Sensors:<\/strong> Used in various sensors for measuring temperature, pressure, etc.
            Father of Fiber Optics<\/strong>
            – Dr. Narinder Singh Kapany is widely recognized for his pioneering work in fiber optics.
            – He demonstrated that light could be bent and transmitted through curved glass fibers, laying the foundation for modern fiber optic technology.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

            Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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