Safeguarding the digital lifelines: India’s strategic imperative for subsea cable security

The backbone of the global communication infrastructure, the subsea fibre-optic cables carry over 99 percent of global communication data. As global geopolitical tensions rise, in addition to the increase in China's naval presence, safeguarding these cables, prone to espionage, sabotage, and damage, has become imperative for India in maintaining its defense communications, civilian engagements, economic stability, and digital sovereignty. As India aims to modernize its defense sector, this paper addresses the crucial element of protecting the subsea fiber-optic cables and how it is imperative for the strategic position of the country. It examines the complex interplay between technological advancements and the evolving security doctrine amid the increasing geopolitical competition, especially in the Indo-Pacific.