NEC Corporation India (NEC India) and NEC Corporation have announced the successful completion of the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Cable (KLI), a flagship optical submarine cable system in Southern India. Developed under the ‘Digital India’ Mission, the project aimed to connect Kochi and the Lakshadweep Islands within 1,000 days. Funded by the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, the initiative was executed by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).
Awarded the project in September 2021, NEC India completed it ahead of schedule in June 2023. Spanning approximately 1,870 kilometers, the system provides an initial capacity of 2×100 Gbps, expandable up to 1,600 Gbps per fibre pair. The cable links Kochi with 11 Lakshadweep islands, supporting voice and data connectivity with ample bandwidth. It facilitates e-Governance initiatives, encourages new enterprises, enables e-commerce facilities, promotes knowledge sharing in educational institutes, and ensures electronic access to Government services for citizens.
Aalok Kumar, Corporate Officer & Senior VP at NEC Corporation, and President & CEO of NEC Corporation India, expressed pride in facilitating comprehensive internet connectivity for the islands, aligning with the Digital India Mission. He emphasized the socio-economic growth potential for the region. Atsushi Kuwahara, Managing Director, Submarine Network Division, NEC, highlighted the project’s significance in connecting the unconnected and empowering communities. NEC, a global leader in the submarine cable system business, aims to respond to growing demand more efficiently, particularly with the increasing influence of 5G and rising data traffic between global data centers. The company has chartered a dedicated cable-laying ship for quicker and more flexible submarine cable system deliveries.
