NEC Corporation India has announced the successful completion of a submarine cable system connecting Chennai, India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Contracted by state-run telecom firm Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, the submarine cable system will offer ample bandwidth to support voice and data connectivity for enterprises and e-commerce, including the implementation of e-Governance initiatives.

Gotta connect them all

The A&N Islands are located at the junction of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, and consist of 572 islands of which 38 are inhabited.

The project was first announced in 2018, and calls for the cable to land at eight island locations. The segment coming from Chennai, India, will include repeaters, while seven other segments without repeaters will run between the islands of Havelock, Little Andaman (Hutbay), Car Nicobar, Kamorta, the Great Nicobar Island, Long Island, and Rangat.

NEC Corporation, the parent company of NEC India, manufactured the optical submarine cable and provided technical assistance.

The 2,300km subsea cable offers an initial capacity of 400Gbps. The connectivity is expected to benefit tourism in Andaman. Previously, all connectivity had to go through satellite links, which was a fraction of what the new cable offers.

“I believe that our mission is to help connect people and nations all over the world, making it possible for individuals to access data and information universally,” said Atsushi Kuwahara, General Manager, Submarine Network Division, NEC.

“I am proud to have completed this important project in cooperation with BSNL and NEC Corporation India and look forward to seeing this cutting-edge system contribute to a brighter society and the advancement of opportunities throughout the A&N Islands.”