China’s three state-owned telecom giants, China Mobile Limited, China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd (China Unicom), and China Telecommunications Corporation (China Telecom), are investing $500 million to build a subsea fiber-optic internet cable network. This new network, known as EMA (Europe-Middle East-Asia), will connect Asia to Europe via the Middle East, creating a direct competitor to the U.S.-backed project.
Importance of Undersea Cables:
Undersea cables are the backbone of the internet and carry over 95% of international internet traffic. These cables are owned by a consortium of telecom and tech companies, allowing seamless data transmission worldwide.
However, they are vulnerable to espionage and sabotage, making them a potential instrument of influence in the escalating competition between China and the United States.
The US-led Project:
The U.S. backed project, SeaMeWe-6, aims to link Singapore to France via Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and several other countries along the route. Initially, the project included China Telecom, China Mobile, China Unicom, and telecom carriers from other nations.
However, last year, the contract was given to SubCom due to successful U.S. government pressure campaigns.
The EMA Project:
The Chinese firms behind the EMA cable intend to create one of the world’s most extensive and advanced subsea cable networks. Starting from Hong Kong, the cable will stretch through China’s Hainan island province, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and France before reaching Singapore. The estimated cost of the project is $500 million, and HMN Technologies Co Ltd will build and lay the cable. The Chinese government will provide subsidies to the company, which is mainly owned by Hengtong Optic-Electric Co Ltd listed in Shanghai.
Foreign Partnerships:
To ensure the success of the project, the Chinese telecom firms are making agreements with foreign partners. They have signed agreements with four foreign telecoms, including France’s Orange SA, Pakistan’s PTCL, Telecom Egypt, and Zain Saudi Arabia, and had discussions with Singapore’s Singtel. The Chinese firms are also reaching out to other countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East to join their group.
Timeline:
Underwater cable projects typically take at least three years to go from planning to completion. The Chinese firms aim to finalize contracts by the end of this year and make the EMA cable operational by the end of 2025.
Implications:
China’s EMA project will likely challenge the U.S.-led project and may lead to further geopolitical tensions. The project may also give China an advantage in the technological race, allowing it to gain economic and military supremacy in the coming decades.
Why In News
China’s state-owned telecom giants have announced a whopping investment of $500 million to construct a cutting-edge subsea fiber-optic internet cable network that will stretch from Asia to Europe via the Middle East, thus paving the way for a direct challenge to the U.S.-led project.
MCQs about Subsea Internet Cable
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What is the estimated cost of China’s proposed subsea cable network?
A. $500 million
B. $5 billion
C. $50 million
D. $50 billion
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Which project will China’s EMA network compete with?
A. SeaMeWe-6
B. SeaMeWe-7
C. Atlantic Crossing-1
D. Transatlantic-4
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What are the primary carriers of international internet traffic?
A. Undersea cables
B. Satellite networks
C. Wireless networks
D. Fiber-optic networks
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What is the timeline for the EMA cable project’s completion?
A. Contracts will be finalized by end of 2021, and the cable will be operational by the end of 2022.
B. Contracts will be finalized by end of 2022, and the cable will be operational by the end of 2024.
C. Contracts will be finalized by end of this year, and the cable will be operational by the end of 2025.
D. Contracts will be finalized by end of 2023, and the cable will be operational by the end of 2026.
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