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Diversified conglomerate Reliance’s ambitious undersea cable system for high-capacity, high-speed internet connectivity from India (Mumbai) to Europe and Asia has received approval from an expert committee of the environment ministry.
India-Europe-Express (IEKS) and India-Asia-Express (IAKS) – the world’s largest undersea cable system – are expected to be completed between 2023 and 2024.
At a meeting held on November 2, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for projects involving coastal zone regulations recommended the project for approval given its importance to grid connectivity. IEX in the Arabian Sea and the High Seas will connect Mumbai to Europe, with landings in the Middle East and Africa (Oman, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia and Egypt), as well as through the Mediterranean Sea with landings in France, Italy and Greece further expanding to the US coast (East).
IAX consists of 12 cable landings in five countries with a main line from Tuas (Singapore) to Mumbai and branches to Chennai, Matara (Sri Lanka), Satun (Thailand) and Morib (Malaysia).
The two cable systems take off from Mumbai’s Versova Beach and Silver Beach, respectively.
Reliance moved Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) in June 2021 for IAKS proposal but at that time CZMP 2019 tickets were not released. Therefore, the proposal was submitted based on the CRZ Notice, 2011.
“The committee noted that the project is important for networking India with other parts of Asia. The board assessed that according to the guidelines of the Ministry for the review of such projects in the transitional period, an instant project can be considered,” the minutes of the panel session state.
The panel ultimately recommended a proposal to clear the CRZ with conditions – to ensure that cable laying and associated facilities do not interfere with fishing activity in the area, that all construction is strictly in accordance with the provisions of the CRZ Notification, 2011 and that there is no groundwater will be drawn.
The IEKS proposal was considered under the CRZ Notification, 2019 applicable in Mumbai Suburban District and was approved with conditions and noting that “the project is important for grid connectivity of India to other parts of Europe”.
The key to communication
Submarine cables based on optical fibers form the foundation of modern communication. Over 90% of Internet communication is routed through submarine cables.
Reliance and telecom operator Bharti Airtel’s undersea cable networks are expected to address India’s growing digital economy and the expansion of 5G, which has taken off this year. Bharti Airtel has also joined the SEA-ME-VE-6 submarine cable consortium to increase its global high-speed network capacity.
“These high-capacity, high-speed systems will provide more than 200 Tb/s of capacity at 100 Gb/s speeds, over 16,000 kilometers.” The use of open system technology and the latest RoADM/Wavelength Switching Branching Unit ensures rapid deployment of upgrades and ultimate flexibility to add/drop waves at multiple locations,” Reliance Jio Infocomm said in February. “IEKS and IAX together will be one of the most important telecommunications infrastructure developments of this decade, connecting India, Europe to Southeast Asia and now the Maldives.”
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