Earthquake disrupts telecommunications links

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.