At the end of Jalan Kuningan Barat Raya, South Jakarta, stands a\nutility pole laden with hundreds of thick cables. Towering high, the\nstructure resembles a terrifying piece of art that endangers road\nusers.<\/p>\n
Behind this pole, Ira runs a building materials shop. The giant\ncables obstruct the frontage of her store. \u201cMany motorcyclists have\nfallen while shopping here; some have even broken their keys, and others\nhave tumbled over. It is especially slippery after rain,\u201d Ira said on\nMonday (28\/9).<\/p>\n
She noted that the situation worsens during the rainy season, as\ncables that were originally buried underground can surface. She blamed\nirresponsible workers for failing to properly complete excavations. \u201cIt\nseems they did not obtain the necessary permits, and the excavations\nwere not deep enough, so when it rains, all the cables emerge,\u201d Ira\nadded.<\/p>\n
Ira expressed frustration that there has been no solution for nearly\nfive years, despite several inspections by officials that resulted in no\nsignificant repairs.<\/p>\n
Another shop owner, Sri, also stated that she was unaware of how the\nmassive cables came to hang in front of her shop, noting that no\npermission was sought from her. The \u2018cable sculpture\u2019 does not stop at\nSri\u2019s shop; the cables sprawl along the length of Jalan Kuningan Barat\nRaya. Approximately 60 metres from Sri\u2019s shop, the \u2018cable snakes\u2019 pass\nby an Islamic school complex consisting of three levels: Raudhatul\nAthfal (RA), Madrasah Ibtidaiyah, and Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs).<\/p>\n
Komar, a school security guard, admitted that the cables frequently\nendanger motorcyclists entering the school. \u201cThere have been many\nvictims among motorists; I have even slipped myself,\u201d Komar said. He\nalso criticised officials for the haphazard way cables are laid, noting\nthat some excavations are not properly resurfaced with cement.<\/p>\n
Komar revealed that the school had to use its own funds to cover\ncables blocking the main entrance. He noted that these cables have been\npresent for about five years, but he is unsure who to direct his\nprotests to.<\/p>\n
What exactly are these giant cables? Near the installation,\ntechnicians in safety vests and helmets were seen inspecting excavation\nholes. Rudi, a cable technician, explained that the thick cables on the\npole are fibre optic cables. They serve as a central data hub for\nvarious internet providers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese are fibre optic cables containing internet network data\ncentres from various providers. Indonesia\u2019s internet traffic is\ncentralised here,\u201d Rudi explained. He noted that before being\ndistributed across Indonesia, the data is first channelled through the\nJabodetabek area.<\/p>\n
As a technician, Rudi warned that fixing the cables is a complex\ntask. They cannot be simply disconnected or buried underground\nimmediately, as temporary routes must be established to maintain\nconnectivity during the transition. \u201cWe cannot just cut them all at\nonce; we must prepare temporary paths and fix them bit by bit, because\ncutting one could have a widespread impact,\u201d Rudi said.<\/p>\n
He also mentioned that the cables belong to multiple service\nproviders, meaning any removal or relocation requires specific permits.\n\u201cWe cannot just cut them arbitrarily because many large clients, such as\ncompanies, offices, schools, and houses, are all connected through this\nhub.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the exact origin of the tangled mess is unclear, Yuliana, an\niced tea vendor who has operated on the roadside for six years, suspects\na nearby company. She alleged that since \u2018Company E\u2019 was established in\n2019, the cable clutter along the road has significantly increased.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/danger-of-tangled-cables-in-west-kuningan-1790646895", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }