Central News (Central News Agency Singapore, July 2nd, Combined News from Abroad) Microsoft, along with Singaporean telecom startup Lightstorm and five other companies, has formed a consortium to plan the construction of a 3,600-kilometer-long subsea cable that will connect India, Malaysia, and Singapore. India is considered one of the fastest-growing data markets globally, with major tech companies actively expanding their AI and cloud infrastructure in the country. According to Reuters, the consortium members also include India's Tata Communications, Singapore Telecommunications, Singapore's ASEAN Cableship, and Japan's NEC. The companies announced today that they will build the I-2 SEA subsea cable to support AI, cloud, and hyperscale computing demands. However, no further details regarding the investment scale were disclosed. The 3,600-kilometer-long subsea cable will have a landing station in Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, southern India. Tech giants Meta and Alphabet have already announced plans to establish data centers in the area. Amajit Gupta, CEO of Lightstorm, stated in an interview with Reuters that the cable is expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of 2029. Currently, subsea cables transmit approximately 95% of global internet traffic. According to telecom research firm TeleGeography, India currently has 17 operational subsea cables with a maximum potential capacity of 960 terabits per second, and at least 10 new cables have been publicly announced for planning. Furthermore, Gupta mentioned that Lightstorm plans to list on an Indian stock exchange by mid-2027, without providing further details. According to media reports in March of this year, the company was seeking a valuation of up to $1.5 billion for its listing. (Compiled by Chi Chin-ling) 1150702 Stand with facts, your every donation is a force to protect press freedom. Download the CNA "One-Stop News" APP for real-time updates. This website's text, images, and videos may not be reprod