Sri Lankan service provider Dialog Axiata has announced the launch in the country of the IAX (India Asia Xpress) submarine cable system, which it describes as a significant part of its total investments in international connectivity infrastructure (said to be over US$100 million) aimed at bolstering Sri Lanka’s international network and future-proofing the country’s digital infrastructure.
This launch, announced late last week, was achieved through collaborative efforts with a consortium of regional telco partners and global hyperscalers, including India’s Reliance Jio, which is leading the overall project.
According to the Submarine Networks website, the IAX cable connects Mumbai and Chennai to Singapore and interconnects with the India-Europe-Xpress (IEX) cable in Mumbai in India to reach the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
It says the IAX cable system has 12 cable landing stations across five nations, with branches in Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Malaysia, in addition to the main trunk from Tuas in Singapore to Mumbai.
Dialog says the IAX cable system significantly enhances Sri Lanka’s global connectivity by providing high-speed, high-capacity bandwidth. The cable integrates seamlessly into Dialog’s existing subsea infrastructure, ensuring scalable and efficient data transmission between major global content hubs in Mumbai and Chennai in India as well as Singapore.
In addition, by complementing the existing BBG (Bay of Bengal Gateway) and MSC (Maldives Sri Lanka Cable) systems, the IAX cable strengthens network reliability, mitigating risks associated with single points of failure. Dialog says its advanced cable landing stations in Matara, a coastal city in the south, and Mount Lavinia, in the capital Colombo, ensure seamless, uninterrupted connectivity, offering businesses and consumers a more secure and robust digital experience.
To commemorate what it calls this strategic milestone, Dialog hosted an official launch event at the Dialog IAX Submarine Cable Landing Station in Matara, attended by the High Commissioner of Malaysia and Consul General of India as well as senior figures from Dialog and parent company Axiata Group.
