Tata TGN-Tata Indicom: A regional submarine cable linking Singapore and India
The Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable is a submarine telecommunications cable system owned by Tata Communications, connecting
Changi North in Singapore to
Chennai in India. Spanning approximately 3,175 kilometers, the cable is listed as in service and has been operational since 2004, according to GeoCables database records. It serves as a key route for data traffic between Southeast Asia and South Asia, leveraging the strategic importance of Singapore as a global connectivity hub and Chennai as a major Indian landing point.
What stands out about the Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable is the lack of publicly disclosed details about its design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and technology. This absence of information makes it challenging to assess its technical specifications or compare it directly with other cables in the region. Additionally, latency measurements from remote probes suggest significant variation between theoretical and real-world performance, raising questions about the factors contributing to this disparity.
Quick facts
| Cable name | Tata TGN-Tata Indicom |
| Length | 3,175 km |
| Ready-for-service year | 2004 (GeoCables database; no conflicting sources surfaced) |
| Owner | Tata Communications |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Changi North (Singapore), Chennai (India) |
Route
The Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable connects Changi North in Singapore to Chennai in India. Changi North is a well-established landing site hosting multiple submarine cables, including the
Asia-America Gateway (AAG) Cable System,
Tata TGN-Intra Asia (TGN-IA), and the
Batam Singapore Cable System (BSCS). Similarly, Chennai is a prominent landing point in India, hosting cables such as
SeaMeWe-4,
SeaMeWe-6, and the
India Asia Xpress (IAX). The corridor between Singapore and India is a critical link for regional and international data traffic, facilitating connectivity between South Asia and the global internet.
Why it was built and what it carries
The Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable was likely built to meet the growing demand for connectivity between Southeast Asia and South Asia. Singapore serves as a major hub for international telecommunications, while Chennai is a key gateway for Indian data traffic. The cable supports diverse applications, including internet services, enterprise communications, and data center interconnectivity. Although specific details about its design capacity and technology are not publicly disclosed, its role in the region suggests it carries substantial volumes of data traffic.
History: what can be established
The GeoCables database records the ready-for-service year of the Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable as 2004. No conflicting industry sources have surfaced to suggest a different year, so this date can be considered reliable. While the cable's deployment aligns with a period of rapid growth in regional connectivity, the absence of detailed historical documentation limits further insights into its construction and commissioning.
Capacity and technology
Public sources do not disclose the design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, or technology of the Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable. Without operator documentation, it is impossible to determine whether the cable has been upgraded since its initial deployment or whether it uses advanced technologies such as coherent optical transmission. This lack of transparency is not uncommon for older cables, particularly those deployed in the early 2000s.
Latency: the physics
The theoretical one-way light propagation latency for the 3,175 km wet segment of the Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable is approximately 15.6 milliseconds, with a round-trip time (RTT) floor of 31.1 milliseconds. However, live measurements from remote probes show significantly higher latencies. The minimum observed RTT between Changi North and Chennai is 41.7 milliseconds, while the average is 94.6 milliseconds based on 136 checks. In the reverse direction, the minimum RTT is 167.6 milliseconds, with an average of 171.5 milliseconds over two checks. These discrepancies reflect additional latency introduced by land tails, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a failure, redundancy for the Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable is provided by other cables landing at Changi North and Chennai. Singapore hosts numerous alternative systems, including the Asia-America Gateway (AAG) and Tata TGN-Intra Asia (TGN-IA), while Chennai is connected to systems such as SeaMeWe-4, SeaMeWe-6, and the
Bay of Bengal Gateway (BBG). Repairs to submarine cables typically involve specialized vessels and can take weeks, depending on the nature and location of the fault.
Bottom line
- The Tata TGN-Tata Indicom cable connects Changi North (Singapore) to Chennai (India) over 3,175 km.
- Operational since 2004, it is owned by Tata Communications and listed as in service.
- Key technical details, including design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology, are not publicly disclosed.
- Theoretical latency is ≈ 31.1 ms RTT for the wet segment, but live measurements show higher values due to additional factors.
- Redundancy is provided by other cables landing at Changi North and Chennai.