TelkomGroup: Jayapura-PNG Submarine Cable Opens Global Connectivity Access
Jayapura (ANTARA) - TelkomGroup’s President Director Dian Siswarini stated that the submarine cable project connecting Jayapura with Papua New Guinea represents a strategic step to open global connectivity access for Papua.
“The existence of this submarine cable not only strengthens regional connectivity ties but also links Papua to the global network, thereby supporting the acceleration of development in various sectors,” she said after inaugurating the Pukpuk Submarine Cable in Jayapura City, Papua, on Friday.
According to Dian, this initiative not only connects Jayapura to Papua New Guinea but also connects Jayapura to the world.
“As a State-Owned Enterprise (BUMN), we have a mandate to build connectivity infrastructure equitably across all of Indonesia, including in the Papua region,” she remarked.
She explained that TelkomGroup performs two main functions: as a business entity contributing to the state and as a development agent supporting the equitable distribution of national connectivity access.
“We must assist the government in building equitable infrastructure throughout Indonesia, and one such effort in the Land of Papua is not an option but a necessity,” she added.
She further noted that improved connectivity in Papua is expected to drive local economic growth, including the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (UMKM), education, health, and public services.
Meanwhile, TelkomGroup’s Director of Wholesale and International Services, Budi Satria Dharma Purba, stated that the Pukpuk submarine cable system is the first cross-border cable in the Asia-Pacific region to directly connect Indonesia’s network with Papua New Guinea.
“The landing station in Jayapura, operated by Telin, thus becomes a gateway for connectivity to PNG’s Kumul Telkom Holdings, channeling capacity from the international SEA-US cable to remote provinces in Papua New Guinea via Vanimo,” he said.
According to Budi, the cable system was actually ready for use since last year but still needed to complete several compliance and permitting processes.
“The development of the Pukpuk Cable is also part of the national submarine cable system restructuring, encompassing four main gateways: Batam, Kupang, Manado, and Jayapura,” he added.
He explained that international cable concentrations have previously been focused in Batam, directly connected to Singapore. However, through the Pukpuk Cable, Jayapura is now strengthened as a new global access hub in eastern Indonesia.
“This is a full collaboration by Telkom through Telin with PNG DataCo to build cross-border connectivity, expected to enhance information exchange and better internet access for both countries,” he concluded.