Technology and telecom companies are reportedly requesting government incentives to boost investments in India’s submarine cable infrastructure. Their demands include reduced license fees for cable landing stations, recognition of subsea cables as critical assets, tax exemptions on cable imports, and the establishment of a dedicated cable corridor. Companies like Bharti Airtel and Meta have advocated for these measures.
Scott Cowling, director, network investments at Meta mentioned that the sector should not be overregulated if India wants to emerge as a leader in digital infrastructure. Further, he highlighted that Meta has landed three subsea cables so far (excluding the recently announced Project Waterworth). Furthermore, he noted that with India already among the world’s top five economies and benefiting from a young, highly educated population, along with its strategic geographic position, the country has significant potential to emerge as a leading global infrastructure hub in the coming years.
