Bengaluru: Microsoft has announced a major partnership with Singapore based digital infrastructure company Lightstorm to build a new undersea fibre optic cable connecting India, Malaysia and Singapore. The project is expected to strengthen digital connectivity across Asia and support the growing demand for cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital services. As businesses and governments increasingly rely on AI powered technologies, the need for faster and more reliable internet infrastructure has become more important than ever.
The new cable system, known as India Asia Xpress, or IAX, will stretch about 3,600 kilometres beneath the sea and create a direct high speed connection between three of Asia's fastest growing digital markets. The companies expect the cable to become operational in 2028, subject to regulatory approvals and the completion of construction work.
Microsoft said the project is part of its long term investment in expanding digital infrastructure to meet the rising needs of businesses and consumers. The company believes the new cable will improve network performance, reduce delays in data transmission and provide more reliable connections for cloud services across the region.
Artificial intelligence has significantly increased the demand for high capacity digital networks. AI systems process enormous amounts of information, requiring faster movement of data between data centres located in different countries. Existing international fibre optic cables are carrying increasing amounts of internet traffic, making additional infrastructure necessary to maintain reliable and efficient services.
The India Asia Xpress cable is expected to play a key role in supporting Microsoft's expanding cloud platform and AI services in India, where digital adoption has accelerated in recent years. Businesses across sectors including banking, healthcare, manufacturing, education and government are increasingly moving their operations to cloud based platforms while adopting AI tools to improve productivity and customer services.
Lightstorm has emerged as one of the leading providers of digital network infrastructure in Asia. Headquartered in Singapore, the company operates extensive fibre networks across India and several other countries, providing connectivity solutions to large enterprises, telecom operators and global cloud service providers. The partnership with Microsoft further strengthens Lightstorm's position in the rapidly expanding digital infrastructure sector.
Industry experts say the investment highlights how technology companies are increasingly building their own communication networks instead of relying entirely on traditional telecom operators. Companies such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Meta have invested billions of dollars in submarine cable projects around the world to ensure faster, safer and more reliable data transmission for their global cloud operations.
India has become one of Microsoft's fastest growing markets for cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The company has already invested heavily in expanding data centres, digital skills programmes and AI infrastructure across the country. The new submarine cable is expected to complement these investments by improving international connectivity and helping businesses access cloud services more efficiently.
The cable will also provide an additional international data route between India and Southeast Asia, improving network resilience in the event of disruptions on existing cable systems. Multiple international connections are considered essential for ensuring uninterrupted internet services, especially as digital economies continue to grow.
The project comes at a time when governments and technology companies around the world are investing heavily in AI related infrastructure. Along with building new data centres and expanding computing capacity, companies are also focusing on the communication networks needed to move massive amounts of information quickly and securely across borders.
Recent industry reports indicate that demand for cloud computing services continues to rise sharply as organisations adopt generative AI applications, advanced data analytics and digital transformation programmes. This has created unprecedented demand for new fibre optic networks, international connectivity and modern digital infrastructure capable of supporting future technological growth.
The partnership between Microsoft and Lightstorm reflects a broader global trend in which digital infrastructure is becoming as important as computing power itself. Reliable undersea cable systems form the backbone of the modern internet, carrying more than 95 percent of international data traffic and connecting countries to the global digital economy.
With the India Asia Xpress project, Microsoft aims to strengthen its cloud ecosystem while supporting the growing digital ambitions of India and Southeast Asia. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape industries and economies, investments in high speed international connectivity are expected to play a crucial role in ensuring that businesses and consumers can benefit from faster, more secure and more reliable digital services in the years ahead.