Maldives to India Long-Distance Optical Cable

The Maldives is being connected to India via high-capacity submarine optical cables, notably the India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) system, providing multi-terabit connectivity and linking the region to major global internet hubs.

India-Asia-Xpress (IAX) Cable

The IAX submarine cable system, led by Reliance Jio in collaboration with Ocean Connect Maldives, directly connects the Maldives to India and extends to Singapore, with additional landings in India, Malaysia, and Thailand . The system spans approximately 16,000 kilometers and is designed to deliver over 200 terabytes per second at speeds of 100 Gb/s, making it one of the highest-capacity links in the region . The cable originates in Mumbai, India, and is strategically routed to support multiple Indian landing points, enhancing redundancy and network resilience . The IAX system is expected to be operational by the end of 2026 .

Dhivaru Subsea Cable Initiative

In addition to IAX, Google's Dhivaru cable system will connect the Maldives with Christmas Island and Oman, further strengthening digital connectivity across the Indian Ocean . This project also includes the development of connectivity hubs in the Maldives and Christmas Island, aimed at improving regional internet reliability, supporting AI-driven services, and enabling the Maldives to become a strategic digital hub . The Dhivaru cable complements existing infrastructure and positions the Maldives as a key node for regional and intercontinental data traffic.

Existing Regional Cables

The FALCON submarine cable system is another long-standing link connecting India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and multiple Middle Eastern and African countries . Operational since 2006, FALCON has an initial design capacity of 2.56 Tbps and integrates with Global Cloud Xchange's broader network, providing end-to-end connectivity from India to Europe . While older than IAX and Dhivaru, FALCON remains a critical backbone for regional connectivity.

Strategic and Economic Impact

These submarine cables significantly enhance the Maldives' digital infrastructure, enabling high-speed internet for businesses, tourism, and government services . For India, the IAX and related systems strengthen its position as a regional telecommunications hub, linking South Asia to Southeast Asia and Europe . The high-capacity links also support emerging technologies, including Web 3.0 services, AI applications, and cloud computing, while providing redundancy and resilience against network disruptions .

Summary

• IAX Cable: Maldives–India–Singapore, 16,000 km, 200 Tb/s, operational by end of 2026 .
• Dhivaru Cable: Maldives–Christmas Island–Oman, with new connectivity hubs, enhancing regional digital infrastructure .
• FALCON Cable: India–Maldives–Middle East–Africa, 2.56 Tbps, operational since 2006 . These projects collectively position the Maldives as a strategic digital hub in the Indian Ocean, while providing India with robust, high-speed international connectivity.