Singapore-Indonesia submarine cable strengthens regional digital connectivity

A new 50 km submarine cable connecting Singapore and the Indonesian island of Batam has landed in Batam, a move expected to strengthen digital connectivity and support the growth of Southeast Asia’s digital economy, Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry said on Monday (20/7). At the inauguration of the Nongsa-Changi Cable (NCC) landing, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the country’s digital transformation must be supported by tangible infrastructure and increasingly robust connectivity. “This digital corridor will strengthen the digital economic value chain of Indonesia and Singapore while creating space for the birth of technology-based innovation and economic activity,” he said. Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong said the NCC will provide additional capacity of more than 1.6 petabits per second and enable latency of under two milliseconds between Batam and Singapore. The project will support the expansion of data centres and various digital services in Batam, while helping businesses operate more efficiently across borders. Gan noted that the cable is part of broader efforts by both countries to deepen economic cooperation and develop the Batam, Bintan, and Karimun (BBK) islands into a regional digital hub. He added that the proximity of the BBK region to Singapore allows companies to leverage the strengths of both nations, creating opportunities for cross-border collaboration, skills development, and investment. “Singapore provides global connectivity, a trusted business environment, and access to companies and customers worldwide. Meanwhile, Indonesia offers scale, talent, land for future growth, and significant potential in renewable energy,” he said.