Reliance Jio to construct an international submarine system centred on India

Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited today announced that it is constructing the largest international submarine cable system centered on India in conjunction with several key global partners and submarine cable supplier SubCom. Reliance Jio is deploying two next generation cables to support the growth in data demand across the region.

The India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) system connects India eastbound to Singapore and beyond while the India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) system connects India westbound to the Middle East and Europe. The systems will seamlessly interconnect as well as connect to the world’s top interexchange points and content hubs for extension of the service globally. IAX and IEX will enhance the ability for consumer and enterprise users to access content and cloud services in and out of India.

The systems will place India at the center of the international network map recognising India’s increased important and the quantum shift in data use in recent years.

“For the first time in the history of fiber optic submarine telecommunications, these systems place India at the center of the international network map,” said Reliance Jio in a statement.

“Jio is at the forefront of India’s explosive growth in digital services and data consumption. To meet the demands of Streaming Video, Remote Workforce, 5G, IoT, and beyond, Jio is taking a leadership role in the construction of the first of its kind, India-centric IAX and IEX subsea systems,” said Mr. Mathew Oommen, President, Reliance Jio. “Implementing these critical initiatives in the shadow of a global pandemic is a challenge, but the ongoing pandemic has only accelerated the digital transformation and the necessity of high-performance global connectivity for the delivery of a richer experience to enterprises and consumers.”

The high-capacity and high-speed systems will offer more than 200Tbps of capacity spanning over 16,000 kilometers employing open system technology and the latest wavelength switched RoADM/branching units ensuring rapid upgrade deployment and the ultimate flexibility to add/drop waves across multiple locations.

The IAX system connects India to Asia Pacific markets with express connectivity from Mumbai and Chennai to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore while the IEX system extends India’s connectivity to Italy, landing in Savona, and additional landings in the Middle East and North Africa. The two systems are also connected to Reliance Jio Global Fiber Network beyond Asia Pacific and Europe connecting to both the east and west coast of the USA. IAX is expected to be ready for service mid-2023 while IEX will be ready for service in early 2024.