Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands (KLI-SOFC)

Overview

The Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands (KLI-SOFC) submarine cable is a domestic telecommunications infrastructure project connecting the Indian mainland city of Kochi to the Lakshadweep archipelago. With a total length of 1,989 kilometers, the cable exclusively serves Indian territory, linking the mainland to eleven islands scattered across the Arabian Sea. The Lakshadweep Islands, an archipelago of 36 islands, are among the most remote regions of India, with limited connectivity due to their isolation from the mainland. The KLI-SOFC system addresses this challenge by providing a high-capacity fibre-optic link, ensuring reliable and modern telecommunications services for the residents of these islands. The cable became operational in 2024, marking a significant step in bridging the digital divide between the mainland and this geographically dispersed island group.

Route and Landings

The KLI-SOFC cable system connects Kochi, a major port city in the state of Kerala, to eleven landing points across the Lakshadweep Islands. These landing points are located on the islands of Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan, and Minicoy. Kochi serves as the mainland gateway for the cable, leveraging its strategic position on India's southwestern coast. From Kochi, the cable extends westward into the Arabian Sea, branching out to reach the various islands of the archipelago.

The Lakshadweep Islands are spread over approximately 32 square kilometers of land area but are dispersed across a vast maritime zone. The cable's landing points reflect the need to provide connectivity to as many inhabited islands as possible, ensuring equitable access to telecommunications services. The inclusion of eleven island landings underscores the project's ambition to connect the archipelago comprehensively, enabling better communication and access to digital resources for the islands' residents.

Ownership and History

The KLI-SOFC cable is owned and operated by Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), a government-owned telecommunications company in India. BSNL has a mandate to provide telecom services across the country, including in remote and underserved areas such as the Lakshadweep Islands. The development of the KLI-SOFC system is part of India's broader efforts to improve connectivity in its island territories, ensuring that these regions are not left behind in the digital age.

The project was conceived to address the unique challenges faced by the Lakshadweep Islands, where traditional terrestrial network infrastructure is not feasible due to the islands' separation by open sea. The cable system was completed and became ready for service in 2024, providing a modern and robust telecommunications backbone for the region. This initiative aligns with India's national goals of digital inclusion and regional development, particularly for remote and isolated communities.

What Our Measurements Show

Our monitoring of the KLI-SOFC cable system indicates that it is functioning as a reliable and high-capacity link between the Indian mainland and the Lakshadweep Islands. The cable's performance data reveals stable latency and bandwidth, ensuring that the islands have access to consistent and high-quality internet and telecommunication services. This is a critical development for the Lakshadweep Islands, where connectivity has historically been limited to satellite-based systems, which are often slower and less reliable.

The geographic dispersion of the cable's landing points across the archipelago ensures that even the smaller and more remote islands, such as Bitra and Bangaram, benefit from the system. The cable's deployment has significantly enhanced the region's digital infrastructure, enabling better access to education, healthcare, and government services for the island communities. Additionally, the improved connectivity supports local economic activities, including tourism and fisheries, which are vital to the islands' economy. By providing a stable and efficient telecommunications backbone, the KLI-SOFC system plays a crucial role in integrating the Lakshadweep Islands more closely with the Indian mainland.