NEC has successfully completed a vast undersea cable system in India, representing a key technical milestone for India. As a component of India’s ambitious ‘Digital India’ Mission, the Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Cable (KLI) links the isolated Lakshadweep archipelago with the busy port city of Kochi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of this project would represent a significant advancement in closing the digital gap and promoting regional growth.
With a significant 1,870 kilometers of length and an initial bandwidth of 2×100 Gbps, extendable to 1,600 Gbps per fiber pair, the KLI system would be rather impressive. Not only is this significant bandwidth capacity a technical achievement, but it also opens up a world of opportunities for the eleven linked islands of Agatti, Andrott, Amini, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Kelpeni, and Minicoy. With its robust voice and data connectivity, the new system would be poised to transform many aspects of island living.
One of the most significant impacts of the KLI system would be its potential to boost socio-economic growth. Thanks to improved connectivity, the islands can now engage in e-commerce, e-governance, and education more successfully, creating new opportunities for regional businesses. This enhanced digital infrastructure is in line with the larger objectives of the Digital India Mission, which seeks to establish India as a knowledge economy and society empowered by technology.
Digital Connectivity across India
The significance of the initiative was underlined by Aalok Kumar, President & CEO of NEC Corporation India and Corporate Officer & Senior VP – Head of the Global Smart City Business at NEC Corporation. He emphasized the critical role that NEC‘s second partnership with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the KLI cable project, plays in creating a more interconnected India. According to Mr. Kumar, the initiative fosters possibilities in e-governance and digital empowerment while also stimulating the socio-economic development of Lakshadweep. It would also improve the digital landscape of the territory.
This project would demonstrate NEC‘s proficiency in improving digital connectivity in India and build upon their prior success in linking Chennai, India, with the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. The cooperation between USOF (DOT), BSNL, Indian government agencies, and the local populations of the Lakshadweep Islands was recognized by Atsushi Kuwahara, Managing Director, Submarine Network Division, NEC, as being crucial to the project’s success.
NEC’s capabilities include route planning, maritime surveys, the fabrication of undersea cables and repeaters, as well as the installation and testing of these systems. NEC has now rented a dedicated cable-laying ship for long-term usage in response to the increasing need for new underwater cables brought on by the spike in 5G and data center traffic. This move would enable NEC to more effectively satisfy customer expectations.
