NEC Corporation has signed a supply contract with a consortium including Lightstorm, Microsoft, Singtel and Tata Communications for the India-Southeast Asia (I-2SEA) submarine cable system connecting India, Malaysia and Singapore.
The company said the I-2SEA subsea fibre-optic cable system will extend for approximately 3,600 km and is intended to provide a direct link between areas where some of India’s fastest-growing AI and hyperscaler data centres are concentrated, including Hyderabad and Chennai, as well as Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
The system is scheduled to begin operations in 2029.
NEC said the cable is aimed at addressing growing demand for high-capacity communications driven by expansion of generative AI and cloud services across the region. The company also said the system is expected to improve regional connectivity, diversify communication routes and enhance network resilience.
“It is a great honor to participate in the I-2SEA construction project. NEC is a leading vendor with over 60 years of experience in the submarine cable systems business. To date, the company has laid more than 450,000 km of submarine cables—equivalent to approximately 11 times around the Earth—and has a particularly strong track record in the Asia-Pacific region. Through our participation in this project, we will further contribute to strengthening the region’s digital infrastructure.”
Tomonori Uematsu, NEC Corporate SVP and Head of Submarine Network Division
