Union IT & Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw made a bold pitch: transform Andaman and Nicobar Islands into a key global hub for internet data transfer.He was speaking at the Bharat AI Shakti event.
Vaishnaw argued that Andaman’s strategic geography can help companies like Google reach Southeast Asia, Australia, and beyond, bypassing the bottlenecks around Singapore. He proposed extending submarine cables through Myanmar (Sittwe) to better connect India’s northeast and integrate regional digital infrastructure.
In the same speech, he linked this ambition with Google’s recent $15 billion AI investment in Andhra Pradesh, suggesting synergy between data infrastructure and AI expansion.
Vaishnaw also asked for a new Visakhapatnam–Sittwe link, citing existing projects: the railway line to Sairang in Mizoram (set to extend to Myanmar) and the highway to Sittwe. These are intended to improve connectivity across border states.
By pushing for Andaman’s elevation in the digital map, the minister envisions a future where India not only hosts AI and data investments but also becomes a backbone for international internet exchange.
