Gujarat signs MoU with Henox IT for proposed cable landing station

Gujarat signs MoU with Henox IT for proposed cable landing station is profiled by BTW Media because published evidence links it to internet infrastructure, governance, operational dependencies, or market visibility.

• Gujarat state signs a memorandum of understanding with Henox IT & Data Centres for a Rs 1,317 crore cable landing station project, aimed at enhancing global connectivity and data centre capacity. 
• The initiative aligns with broader digital transformation goals in India, but questions remain about implementation challenges and long-term economic impact. 

What happened: A memorandum of understanding sets out plans for a new cable landing station in Gujarat

The Gujarat government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sharjah-based Henox IT & Data Centres Pvt Ltd and Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) to establish a cable landing station (CLS) in Dhuvaran, Anand district. The agreement was formalised on 11 December during the Regional AI Impact Conferencein Gandhinagar, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi in attendance. 

The project carries a potential investment of approximately Rs 1,317 crore and is expected to create more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs in the region. Representatives from Henox, including CEO Masood M. Sharif Mahmood and Rasheed Al Ali, and the UAE Ambassador to India, Abdul Nasser Jamal Alshaali, met with the state leadership and officials from the Science and Technology ministry following the signing. 

Officials have highlighted the strategic importance of the CLS in strengthening Gujarat’s position as a hub for hyperscale and enterprise data centres, building capacity in information and communications technology infrastructure. The facility is expected to serve as a vital backbone for global internet connectivity and enable high-bandwidth applications, including systems needed for smart cities and advanced digital services.

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Why it matters

The cable landing station is part of a broader strategy to enhance India’s digital infrastructure and global connectivity. By bringing international data traffic directly onto Indian soil, the facility could reduce latency, bolster data sovereignty, and make Gujarat an attractive destination for cloud, AI, and digital service providers. 

This development aligns with government efforts to promote digital transformation across sectors, complementing initiatives such as the Gujarat Cloud Adoption Guidelines 2025, which aim to accelerate secure, scalable digital services and AI readiness in governance and industry. 

However, ambitious projects of this scale also face questions about real-world execution. Upgrading physical infrastructure, navigating regulatory frameworks, ensuring environmental compliance, and delivering on job creation promises are significant challenges that could influence the eventual impact of the initiative. Observers also note that while such infrastructure may attract international data centre investments, the pace of adoption and long-term economic benefits remain to be seen. 

As India seeks to position itself as a global digital gateway with initiatives such as this and the rapid expansion of data centre capacity nationwide, stakeholders will be watching closely to assess whether the promised connectivity gains materialise and support broader economic and technological goals.