The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is working on a framework to establish a robust system for repairing and maintaining undersea cables in India. The initial setup cost is estimated at ₹2,500–₹3,000 crore, excluding additional expenses for labor, training, and maintaining cable inventory. Each repair operation costs approximately ₹20 crore, with an average of 4–5 repairs needed annually.
With five submarine cable projects planned, companies like Google, Meta, and major telecom operators have shown interest in investing in these critical fiber cables. However, they are seeking government support to share the financial burden of establishing infrastructure, including cable depots, Indian-operated repair vessels, trained crews, and skilled engineers—initiatives that involve significant costs.
India currently relies on marine service providers based in Singapore and Dubai. At present, 18 submarine cables terminate in Indian cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum. Additionally, the government’s Chennai-Andaman & Nicobar Islands subsea project and the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Optical Fiber Connection, funded by the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), incur annual fixed maintenance costs of ₹7 crore and ₹14 crore for any cable cut repairs.
