Washington, January 21 (IANS). The US Trade and Development Agency on Tuesday announced support for a proposed submarine cable system connecting India to Singapore and Southeast Asian data hubs.
USTDA said it has partnered with Subconnex Malaysia Sdn.Bhd to fund a feasibility study for the SCNX3 submarine cable system. Have signed an agreement with. The project will connect India to Singapore and other parts of South-East Asia and is expected to serve approximately 1.85 billion people.
USTDA said the study is designed to help bring investment to the cable system and increase the capacity needed for artificial intelligence and cloud-based services.
The agency said that this effort will also help in ensuring that international networks remain reliable and secure. With this, the risk of cyber threats and foreign interference can be reduced. The agreement was signed at the Pacific Telecommunications Council 26 conference in Honolulu, Hawaii.
“Using secure, American-made subsea cable technology is critical to protecting sensitive data and critical infrastructure from cyberattacks and foreign espionage. This project advances a strategic priority for our partners in South and Southeast Asia and strengthens America’s leadership in the global digital economy,” said USTDA Deputy Director Thomas R. Hardy.
Subconnex has selected Florida-based APTelecom LLC to conduct the feasibility study. The study route will focus on design, engineering, financial modeling, commercialization planning and regulatory analysis.
According to USTDA, the purpose of this work is to increase private investment for the SCNX3 cable project and reduce early-stage risks. The American agency said that American experts will play an important role in creating the technical and commercial framework of the system.
The planned cable route will connect Chennai in southern India to Singapore. The agency said additional landing points in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia were being considered. USTDA said the cable’s creation could create new opportunities for U.S. hardware, software and service providers to supply reliable solutions across the region.
The SCNX3 submarine cable aims to address the growing connectivity challenges in India and South-East Asia. USTDA said growing digital demands and limited route diversity have made existing networks vulnerable to outages and security risks.
Through this project, digital access can be improved by adding new and stronger data pathways. Along with this, the growth of Artificial Intelligence and Cloud services is expected to get support. The US agency said that this cable will provide secure and reliable communications infrastructure for governments, businesses and citizens in South and Southeast Asia.
Subconnex Chief Executive Officer Simon Zettle said the project is an important step towards strengthening the digital backbone of the region.
“By creating a new, robust and reliable route between India, Singapore and key regional hubs, this system will directly support economic growth, digital inclusion and the rapid expansion of cloud and artificial intelligence capabilities in one of the world’s most dynamic markets,” he said.
Zettle said USTDA’s support will help move the project forward. The project will ensure that the cable is built on reliable technology and the world’s best expertise.
USTDA said the feasibility study will help promote the use of secure cable technology and protect data flows from undue foreign influence. Such concerns have grown because undersea cables carry much of the world’s Internet and data traffic.
–IANS
KK/AS