India’s Digital Fragility
A Hidden Crisis in the Red Sea While global attention fixates on the palpable threat of a Strait of Hormuz blockade and the consequent shortages of vital commodities like LPG and petrol, a far more insidious and potentially catastrophic vulnerability remains dangerously overlooked: the critical network of undersea fibre-optic cables running through the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb strait. This digital infrastructure is not just a convenience; it is the silent, essential backbone of the modern global economy , and its fragility poses a major, hidden threat to India's digital future. Here’s a map illustrating the complex network of undersea fiber-optic cables located in the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and the Persian Gulf connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Image Source: Telegeography The Unseen Lifeline of the Global Economy The common misconception is that international data is primarily transmitted via satellite. The reality is strikingly different: over 95% of all in...