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VSNL is SEA-ME-WE4 global consortium cable system network administrator
MUMBAI: Telecommunications major Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) has been chosen as the network administrator for one of the world’s largest and sophisticated trans-continent cable systems-SEA-ME-WE4 (South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe).
This is the first time that an Indian company has been chosen as the network administrator for a global consortium cable system. The SEA-ME-WE4 consortium has 16 members.
VSNL also hosts the network-operating centre in Mumbai. The twin role of network administrator and hosting the operating centre will enable VSNL to play a key role in the day-to-day operations of the cable system.
Says VSNL executive director N. Srinath, “VSNL has built and acquired extensive global submarine cable networks, and is well positioned to become a major provider of bandwidth and managed services to carriers and enterprises, globally. The fact that 16 telecommunications companies from different countries across Asia, Africa and Europe have joined hands to build the SEA-ME-WE4 underlines the importance of cooperation in a global world. VSNL is privileged to have been chosen as the Network Administrator of this cable system. Now with the commissioning of the SEA-ME-WE4 system, we will be able to enhance our network coverage in Asia, Africa and Europe.”
A consortium of 16 partners, comprising leading global telecom carriers, announced at Dubai on December 13, 2005 the completion and inauguration of the high-capacity fiber-optic submarine cable that stretches from France to Singapore. This latest cable named SEA-ME-WE 4 (South East Asia, Middle East and Western Europe), is the fourth in a series connecting three continents over a distance of almost 20,000 kilometers having design capacity of 1.28 Tera bits per second.
The 16 companies that form the consortium are: Algerie Telecom, Bharti (India), BTTB (Bangladesh), CAT Telecom (Thailand), Etisalat (UAE), France Telecom, MCI, PTCL (Pakistan), Singapore Telecom (SingTel), Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), Saudi Telecom (STC), Telecom Egypt, Telecom Italia Sparkle (Italy), Telekom Malaysia, Tunisia Telecom (Tunisia) and VSNL.
The SEA-ME-WE4 cable is initially equipped with 160 Giga bits bandwidth using state-of-the-art DWDM technology along with latest 640Giga bits matrix Digital Cross Connect in every station. The system can be upgraded up to its final design capacity of 1.28 Tera bits.
VSNL is a leading player in the submarine cable bandwidth business globally. In addition to owning capacity on several cable systems the company has also built the Tata Indicom Cable (India-Singapore) and acquired the undersea
cable assets of Tyco Global Network (TGN).
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UDF poised to return to power in Kerala, says Manorama-CVoter survey
Massive opinion poll projects shift in Kerala politics ahead of 2026 Assembly elections.
MUMBAI: The winds of change appear to be blowing through Kerala’s political landscape and this time, they seem to favour the United Democratic Front. A comprehensive mega opinion survey conducted by Manorama News in partnership with CVoter projects a potential comeback for the UDF in the upcoming Kerala Legislative Assembly Elections 2026. The survey, covering all 140 constituencies with a massive sample size of nearly 90,000 respondents, predicts the UDF could win between 69 and 81 seats.
The ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) is expected to secure 57 to 69 seats, a significant drop from the 99 seats it won in the 2021 elections. This would mean the LDF losing 30 to 42 of its sitting seats. Meanwhile, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which drew a blank in 2021, is projected to open its account with 1 to 5 seats.
Region-wise, the UDF is expected to make strong gains in Malabar, winning 25 to 34 out of 48 seats, and in Central Kerala, where it could bag 29 to 33 out of 53 seats. In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to retain an edge with 21 to 25 seats, while the UDF may improve to 12 to 16 seats. The NDA could pick up 1 to 3 seats in the southern region.
The survey was conducted between 14 and 26 March 2026, with additional tracker and snap polls carried out from December 2025 to March 2026. A total of 89,693 respondents participated, ensuring representation across all demographics and social segments.
Manorama News has a strong track record of accuracy, with its previous projections closely matching the actual results of the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections as well as the 2021 Kerala Assembly polls.
In Kerala’s famously fierce political battles, this survey suggests the pendulum may be swinging back. Whether the final verdict matches these numbers or throws up another surprise, one thing is clear, the 2026 Assembly elections are shaping up to be one of the most keenly watched contests in the state’s history.
