Telkom plans new network for 3 islands
Telkom plans new network for 3 islands
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
State-owned telecommunications company PT Telekomunikasi
Indonesia (Telkom) is planning to construct a new fiber optic
network this year to strengthen its telecommunications backbone
for Java, Sumatra and Kalimantan islands.
Telkom business and service director Suryatin Setiawan told
The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that the planned fiber optic cable,
which would be planted under the seabed, would link Jakarta,
Pontianak in West Kalimantan and Batam.
"The project provides an alternative should there be any
disruptions to the network installed on land," he said at the
Office of the State Minister of State Enterprises.
According to Suryatin, the new fiber optic project is worth
around Rp 300 billion (US$33 million), with the bidding process
to kick off next month.
He added that the project was also aimed at improving
telecommunication connections among the three islands, with an
ability of transferring high capacity connections for data and
providing more secure transmission.
"The network is good to strengthen defense infrastructure
since it is more endurable and secure from enemy attacks compared
to other transmission devices," said Suryatin.
Optical fibers are long, thin strands of pure glass arranged
in bundles, called optical cables, used to transmit light signals
over long distances to provide fixed phone line connections.
Connections using fiber optic cables are more secure because
there will be no electromagnetic interference as experienced when
using a satellite. Such connections are ideal for high traffic
communications.
As part of the country's defense infrastructure blueprint, the
government offered the $1 billion Palapa Ring project -- which is
designed to link Indonesian cities through an integrated fiber
optic network -- to local and global investors during January's
Infrastructure Summit.
Meanwhile, Suryatin said Telkom was obliged by the government
to install some 300,000 units of fixed-line telephones to hook
remote areas nationwide by stretching copper cables.
Fixed-line networks using copper cables are deemed more
resistant to disruptions caused by wars, compared to cellular-
based networks.
The defense reason has been cited as the main reason for the
government's efforts to urge publicly listed Telkom, as well as
PT Indosat, to scale up the installation of copper-based fixed
lines throughout the country.