TelkomGroup Inaugurates Pukpuk Submarine Cable in Papua
PT Telkom Indonesia, through its operating company Telkom International (Telin), has officially launched the Pukpuk Submarine Cable System (Puk-Puk 1) at Telkom Witel Jayapura in Papua on Friday, 8 May 2026. This inauguration represents a crucial milestone in bolstering digital connectivity in eastern Indonesia while opening a new digital corridor that connects Indonesia to Papua New Guinea and the Asia-Pacific region.
This strategic infrastructure is the first cross-border submarine cable in the Asia-Pacific area that directly links Indonesia’s network to Papua New Guinea. The landing station in Jayapura, operated by TelkomGroup, now serves as a new gateway for connectivity to the Kumul network in Papua New Guinea, while also enhancing the resilience of the telecommunications network in eastern Indonesia.
The project inauguration was attended by Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Angga Raka Prabowo, President Director of Telkom Indonesia Dian Siswarini, representative of the Papua New Guinea Consul in Jayapura Leon Galemo, representative of the Governor of Papua L. Christian Sohilait, and CEO of PNG DataCo Paul Komboi.
In his remarks, Angga Raka Prabowo emphasised that accelerating digital transformation is one of the national priorities to achieve more inclusive and competitive development. According to him, connectivity must be built equitably so that all regions, including eastern Indonesia, have equal opportunities to grow in the digital economic ecosystem.
“The Pukpuk Cable is an important part in creating more reliable, resilient connectivity that can provide benefits to communities in eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and across the country,” he stated.
The presence of the Pukpuk submarine cable also means that Jayapura now has two independent connectivity routes. In addition to the existing Sulawesi-Maluku-Papua route, there is now a new alternative route connecting Vanimo, Madang, to Port Moresby, and further connected more broadly to Manado and Los Angeles via the SEA-US cable. This is believed to improve the reliability of digital services in Papua through a stronger backup system.
President Director of Telkom Indonesia, Dian Siswarini, stated that this project is a tangible manifestation of TelkomGroup’s commitment to providing equitable digital access to the outermost regions of Indonesia.
“Through Pukpuk, TelkomGroup not only strengthens digital infrastructure in Papua but also affirms that eastern Indonesia is an integral part of the global connectivity ecosystem. We want to ensure that no region in Indonesia is left behind in the digital era,” she said.
Meanwhile, CEO of PNG DataCo Paul Komboi described Pukpuk-1 as a symbol of the strategic collaboration between the two countries that has been established for nearly a decade.
“PUKPUK-1 is not just a cable. It is a bridge between countries, a platform for economic opportunities, and the foundation for digital transformation,” he asserted.
With the arrival of the Pukpuk Submarine Cable, TelkomGroup through Telin reaffirms its role as a connector of global connectivity and a driver of national digital transformation, particularly in eastern Indonesia, which is now increasingly ready to become a new centre for digital economic growth.