India needs to pay greater attention to South Asia’s digital transformation as part of its regional strategy. Digital infrastructure is no longer simply an economic or developmental issue. As telecommunications networks, cloud infrastructure, data centres and digital platforms become integrated into government services and critical infrastructure, decisions about vendors, standards and data governance have long-term implications for national and regional resilience. For New Delhi, working with Australia and other like-minded partners to provide credible choice, strengthen regional capacity and promote secure, trusted and interoperable digital ecosystems offers a practical path forward. Across South Asia, governments are investing in telecommunications networks, data centres, digital public infrastructure, smart cities and digital services to accelerate economic growth and improve public service delivery. Yet persistent shortfalls in connectivity infrastructure, institutional capacity and regulatory frameworks continue to constrain these ambitions, as I discuss in a ASPI research report issued today. Capitalising on this opportunity over the past decade, Chinese companies have established a significant presence across South Asia’s digital ecosystem. They have been suppliers of everything from mobile phones and telecommunications equipment to fibre-optic networks and submarine cables, data centres, cloud services, surveillance technologies, digital payments and e-commerce. China’s growing presence in its neighbourhood has raised concerns in India about strategic encirclement, economic dependency and security vulnerabilities. The issue is not Chinese involvement in South Asia’s digital development in itself. The key challenge is the combination of China’s growing presence, limited alternatives and weak institutional capacity in recipient states. Chinese companies offer competitive pricing, state-backed financing and strong project delivery, making them attractive partners for governments facing resource constraints. While this engagement has helped address infrastructural gaps and accelerate digital connectivity, it comes with risks and challenges that demand urgent attention. Once embedded, dependence on a limited number of suppliers can create technological lock-in –