Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued the recommendations on ‘Licensing Framework and Regulatory Mechanism for Submarine Cable Landing in India’. These come after the TRAI received a reference letter from Department of Telecom (DoT) The DoT raised concern about Indian ILDOs (international long-distance operators) who do not have any stake in the consortium owning submarine cable, but they are seeking Home and Defence Ministry clearance on behalf of the cable consortiums for laying/maintaining such cables and applying for setting up of CLS for such submarine cables. Submarine cables connect India and other countries with global internet services and their demand has been booming year-over-year.
The authority had suo-moto identified certain other issues related to submarine cables such as the need for Indian flagged vessel for submarine cable operation and maintenance; enabling provisions for domestic submarine cable between two or more cities on the coastline of India; stub-cables – new concept of placing pre-laid “dark fiber” from the CLS through Beach Manhole (BMH) into the territorial waters for upcoming new cables; and clarity on terrestrial connectivity between different Cable Landing Stations.
Grant critical infrastructure status
Based on the comments/inputs received from the stakeholders during the consultation process, discussion held during OHD and further analysis of the issues, the authority has finalised recommendations. Trai has suggested the government grant critical infrastructure status to the submarine cable landing station and accord essential service status to the repair service of the cables. It recommended DoT to form a committee to work on different financial viability models for India Flagged Repair Vessels, including possible incentives from the government as there are no such domestic entities available to handle repair work of submarine cables.
The regulator has also recommended that considering the submarine cable and CLS as a critical asset, a section should be added to the Indian Telecommunication Bill, 2022, to promote, protect and prioritise ‘Cable Landing Station’ and ‘submarine cable’ in India.
Trai recommended that entities with ILD (International Long Distance or ISP Category ‘A’ authorisation (with International Internet Gateway) licence should be amended to include two categories of Cable Landing Station (CLS) locations – Main CLS and CLS Point of Presence (CLS-PoPs).
“The Authority recommends that any ILD or ISP Category ‘A’ authorization (with International Internet Gateway) Licensee who applies for seeking permissions for establishing main Cable Landing Stations (CLS) should submit an undertaking that they own and control the asset in Indian Territorial Waters (ITW) and at CLS,” Trai said.