Earthquake disrupts telecommunications links

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An undersea telecommunications cable in the South China Sea, linking Indonesia with other Asian and European countries, has been damaged due to an earthquake in Taiwan waters and the South China Sea, causing disruption to telecommunications links.

Due to the incident, both PT Indosat and other telecommunications firms in other countries that use the undersea network reported that their phone and Internet links had been disconnected since Dec. 18.

Currently, Indosat is using a backup system to maintain service by transferring communication links to satellite and other undersea cable networks.

"We are working with other operators to fix the link and hope it will be finished as soon as possible," said Indosat fixed telecommunications director Wahyu Wijayadi in a media statement.

The incident would not have a significant financial impact on Indosat, as the firm could still maintain services, he said.

The APCN cable network was built by a consortium of Asian telecommunications operators from nine countries, and has been in operation since January 1997, connecting countries in the Asia- Pacific region. The SMW-3 was built by a consortium of 33 countries in Europe, South Asia, Asia-Pacific, North Africa, the Middle East and Australia, and has operated since October 1999.