India's data transmission capacity is projected to increase fourfold by 2025 with the activation of new submarine cable systems connecting the country to key global markets, said TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti at the Digicom Summit, as reported by PTI. Currently, India hosts 17 international subsea cables across 17 landing stations.
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Submarine Cable Infrastructure
"As of the end of 2023, the total lit capacity and activity and activated capacity of these cables stood at 180 TBPS (terabit per second) and 132 TBPS, respectively. Multiple next-generation systems are due to become operational in 2025, replacing ageing cables. Once the new systems are fully operational, India's data transmission capacity is projected to quadruple with additional crucial routes," Lahoti reportedly said.
Digital Economy Targets
Lahoti highlighted the telecom sector's role in driving India's digital economy, which contributes 12 percent to the GDP and is expected to reach 20 percent by 2026-27. The government aims for a USD 1 trillion digital economy by 2027-28, driven by rapid data consumption and a favourable policy environment.
"Since the current growth rate of the digital economy is 2.8 times the GDP growth rate. Accordingly, the government aims for a USD 1 trillion digital economy by 2027-28. The Indian telecom sector, which is the backbone of a digital economy, has witnessed significant development in recent years, setting the stage for a transformative era given unprecedented data consumption, a vast user base, and a policy-type friendly environment. India continues to foster industry growth and digital connectivity," Lahoti added, according to the report.
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Broadband and 5G Connectivity
India's telecom user base has expanded to 1.2 billion, including 944 million broadband users. Rural broadband subscriptions have surged 100-fold over the past decade, outpacing urban growth in states such as Assam, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh East.
Lahoti also reportedly acknowledged the effort of telecom operators in providing 4G coverage across 97 per cent of the villages and 5G connectivity in over 99 per cent of districts in the country. The upgraded submarine cable network is expected to further strengthen India's global connectivity and drive the next phase of its digital transformation.
