The United States is doubling down on its Indo-Pacific strategy with a key endorsement for enhanced digital links between India and Southeast Asia. On Tuesday, the US Trade and Development Agency revealed an agreement with SubCom Nex Malaysia to finance a comprehensive feasibility study for the SCN3X submarine cable network. This high-capacity system will bridge India to Singapore and other Southeast Asian nodes, serving an estimated 1.85 billion users.
Amid rising concerns over network reliability and security, the study—led by Ape Telecom LLC—will delve into technical route planning, engineering feasibility, economic viability, market strategies, and compliance frameworks. USTDA aims to de-risk the project, drawing in private capital to build out infrastructure vital for AI, cloud computing, and beyond.
‘Secure, US-built subsea cables are crucial for safeguarding sensitive data against cyber attacks and foreign spying,’ asserted USTDA Deputy Director Thomas R. Hardy during the signing at the Pacific Telecommunications Council 26 conference in Honolulu. He positioned the effort as a win for regional partners and US digital dominance.
Connecting Chennai to Singapore via strategic landings in Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, SCN3X tackles pressing challenges like bandwidth shortages and outage-prone legacy routes. The cable will bolster digital access, support explosive growth in data-intensive technologies, and ensure trustworthy communications for the region’s stakeholders.
SubCom Nex’s Simon Jettl praised the partnership: ‘This is essential for strengthening the digital spine of South and Southeast Asia, driving economic expansion, inclusion, and AI-cloud proliferation in a powerhouse market.’ USTDA’s backing ensures the cable leverages top-tier expertise and reliable tech.
As global data flows increasingly rely on undersea cables, this project promotes secure technologies to shield against malign influences, creating fresh avenues for US firms to deliver cutting-edge solutions and fortify the international digital ecosystem.