Another big investment to the extent of Rs.1000 crores is coming to Gujarat by way of an MoU between the government and Lightstorm Company to build the state’s first submarine cable landing station under it’s IT policy 2022-27
The project is expected to provide employment to over 2000 people over the next five years. The project seeks to establish a submarine cable directly from Europe to the state of Gujarat resulting into increased data connectivity with Europe, the Middle East, the US and Asia.
Lightstorm is in the business of building infrastructure for hyper scale networking in South Asia and Southeast Asia. They are pioneer in building a resilient fiber network and SmartNet.
The news surfaced a few months ago about Cinturion Corp Ltd., a global provider of subsea capacity-based network solutions reaching an agreement with Lightstorm as its landing partner in India.
As part of the agreement, Cinturion’s TEAS – Trans Europe Asia System, an `open-access’ submarine and terrestrial network, will be hosted by Lightstorm to strengthen connectivity between India, the Middle East and Europe. Lightstorm will use its carrier-neutral and open CLS to herald a new era in the landing of submarine cable systems in India.
Gujarat has been vying for the opportunity since 2001. There had been reports that despite raised concerns for the security, the Government pushed for the development plank. The strong recommendation from the state government had Centre giving in by dropping the crucial reference of making the entire coastal area of gujarat as “security sensitive”.
At that time, the entire coastal region of the state was declared “security sensitive” in the government of india guidelines for setting up a “submarine cable landing station for international gateway for the internet”, after the telecom department’s intensive consultations with various security-related ministries, include home, defence and the prime minister’s office .
“in the developmental interests of Gujarat” “in-principle decision” was taken after prime minister vajpayee’s meeting with the then chief minister keshubhai patel on July 15, 2000.
Gujarat, being western most state in India has edge over other states for being selected as “landfall point” of Submarine cable netwrk with it’s 1600 kms coast and better access to north and central India.
It would be easier to set up international gateways along the Gujarat coastline.
