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FLAG, one of the world’s largest independent subsea cable network operators backed by UK private equity firm 3i Group, is significantly strengthening its commitment to India’s digital infrastructure by planning around $40 million in new investments. The funds will support expanding both subsea and terrestrial network capacity with projects that boost connectivity between India and key Asian markets like Malaysia and Singapore, as well as build land-based routes that help avoid unstable maritime zones.
FLAG aims to shift its network composition from predominantly subsea cables to a mix with greater terrestrial coverage to improve redundancy and resilience. This expansion is driven by rising data demand in India, fuelled by a growing middle class and rapid hyperscale data centre growth that requires high-capacity, low-latency links. FLAG is also exploring opportunities in edge data centres to support AI and other latency-sensitive applications.
The company is applying to broaden its license footprint and is urging greater private equity participation in subsea infrastructure. A recent $340 million refinancing deal secured earlier this year will help fund broader upgrades, including cable landing stations and network enhancements. FLAG already owns multiple major cable systems and plans future announcements on additional network investments in India and beyond.
