NEC Corporation India (NEC India) has completed a flagship optical submarine cable system in Southern India connecting Kochi and the Lakshadweep Islands.

The Kochi-Lakshadweep Islands Submarine Cable (KLI), developed under the Government of India’s ‘Digital India’ Mission, was inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The initiative was first announced by Modi during a speech commemorating India’s 74th Independence Day in 2020, during which the Prime Minister pledged that the route would be completed within 1000 days.

Funded by the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF) under the Department of Telecommunications, the project was executed by state-owned operator BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited), which awarded the contract to NEC India in September 2021.

Completed ahead of schedule in June 2023, the system spans approximately 1,870 kilometres and offers an initial capacity of 2×100 Gbps, expandable up to 1,600 Gbps per fibre pair. It connects the port city of Kochi on the mainland to 11 Lakshadweep islands: Agatti, Andrott, Amini, Bangaram, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kavaratti, Kiltan, Kelpeni, and Minicoy.

Providing ample bandwidth for voice and data connectivity, the cable supports e-Governance initiatives, facilitates new enterprises, and enables e-commerce facilities. Aligned with the Digital India Mission, it aids knowledge sharing in educational institutes and ensures electronic access to Government services for citizens.

“Following the successful completion of an optical submarine cable system connecting Chennai, India and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N Islands) in December 2020, NEC is honoured to yet again take part in this prestigious project which we hope will open a wide range of opportunities for the people on the Lakshadweep Islands,” said Atsushi Kuwahara, Managing Director, Submarine Network Division, NEC.