Context:

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) have recently launched the International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience.

International Advisory Body for Submarine Cable Resilience

• It will improve cable resilience, reduce risks of damage, and ensure the swift repair and deployment of these vital systems.
• The Body will comprise 40 members from around the world, including ministers, heads of regulatory authorities, and senior telecommunications experts.
• The body will meet at least twice a year to consult on international policies, telecommunications infrastructure, and best practices for improving resilience.
• The Advisory Body is co-chaired by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority of the Republic of Portugal (ANACOM).
• The inaugural virtual meeting of the body is scheduled in December 2024, followed by a physical meeting at the Submarine Cable Resilience Summit in Nigeria in 2025.

India’s Position on Submarine Cable 

• India hosts around 17 international subsea cables across 14 distinct landing stations, mainly located in Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, Tuticorin, and Trivandrum.
• As of the end of 2022, the total lit capacity and activated capacity of these cables stood at 138.606 Tbps and 111.111 Tbps, respectively.

The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC)

• ICPC was founded in 1958 to represent entities that own or operate submarine telecommunications or power cables, as well as other companies’ interest in the submarine cable industry.
• Its primary purpose is to enhance the security of undersea cables by providing a forum for the exchange of relevant technical, legal and environmental information.
• ICPC is headquartered in the United Kingdom (UK).
• India’s Department of Telecommunications and the private organization TATA Communications Ltd have joined as a member organisation of ICPC.

The International Telecommunication Union

• ITU is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs).
• It was established on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union.
• It is linked to the United Nations through a special agreement that recognizes ITU as a UN-specialized agency, which formally came into force on 1 January 1949.
• Currently, ITU has 194 Member States and more than 1000 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations.
• ITU is Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, with its regional offices on every continent.
• ITU allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops technical standards that ensure networks and technologies interoperability, and works to improve access to digital technologies in underserved communities worldwide.