Connectivity to Andaman & Nicobar Islands (CANI)

• Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today launched and dedicated to the nation, the submarine Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) connecting Andaman & Nicobar Islands to the mainland. The foundation stone for this project was laid by the PM on 30th December 2018 at Port Blair.
• The connectivity would now enable endless opportunities in the islands
• 2300 km submarine cable and completing it before the set target is very praiseworthy.
• The laying of cables for about 2300 kilometers under the sea as surveying in the deep sea, maintaining the quality of the cable, and laying of the cable with specialized vessels is not an easy task. The project also had to overcome challenges such as high waves, storms and monsoons and the tough times owing to Corona Pandemic.
• The service had begun on a major chunk of the islands from Chennai to Port Blair, Port Blair to Little Andaman, and Port Blair to Swaraj Island.
• the Submarine Cable will help A&N in getting cheaper & better connectivity and all the benefits of Digital India, especially in improving online education, telemedicine, banking system, online trading, and boosting tourism.
•  the Indian Ocean has been the center of India's trade and strategic prowess for thousands of years and that Andaman & Nicobar is an important center for India’s Economic-Strategic Cooperation.
• under the Act-East policy, the role of Andaman and Nicobar in India's strong relations with East Asian countries and other countries connected to the sea is very high and is going to increase.
• the blue economy like Fisheries, Aquaculture, and SeaWeed farming on the island will accelerate incommensurate with the modern infrastructure being developed in Andaman and Nicobar.
• Andaman & Nicobar will be developed as a hub of Port Led Development as it is at a Competitive Distance from many ports of the World.

Submarine Communications Cable

• It is a cable laid on the seabed between land-based stations to transmit telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean and sea.
• The optical fiber elements are typically coated with plastic layers and contained in a protective tube suitable for the environment where the cable will be deployed.
• Compared to satellites, using internet connection through submarine cables is more reliable, cost-efficient, and large capacity.

Source: PIB