Microsoft joined a consortium to build the I-2SEA undersea cable. This 3,600-kilometer cable will connect India with Malaysia and Singapore.
Singapore-based telecom startup Lightstorm leads the project. The cable will support increasing demands from artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and hyperscale workloads. This addresses needs in one of the world's fastest-growing data markets.
Other consortium members include Tata Communications, Singapore Telecommunications, and Japan's NEC Corporation.
Landing stations will be located in Machilipatnam and Chennai, India. These will connect to hubs in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
The I-2SEA cable expects to be operational in Q4 2029. It will bolster digital infrastructure in the region.