XLSMART Strengthens Indonesia's Global Connectivity Through CANDLE Cable System
XLSMART is strengthening Indonesia’s digital infrastructure through the development of the CANDLE Cable System, a submarine cable communication system spanning approximately 8,000 kilometres that will connect Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan.
Developed through XLSMART for BUSINESS and targeted to begin operations in 202cap 28, this infrastructure is part of XLSMART’s commitment to providing high-quality, sustainable, and responsible connectivity to support the growth of Indonesia’s digital economy.
Andrijanto Muljono, Director & Chief Enterprise Business Officer of XLSMART, stated on Sunday (13/09/2026), “CANDLE is a strategic investment to prepare for Indonesia’s long-term connectivity needs. The growth of the digital economy requires increasing capacity and wider access to global networks. For us, the most important thing is ensuring that this infrastructure investment can open greater access for Indonesian businesses to grow and connect with the regional digital ecosystem.”
The construction of CANDLE has now entered a significant phase with the landing of the Golden Buoy in Tanjung Bemban, Batam, on Friday (11/09). The project, which commenced in December 2024, will provide a high-capacity route while adding more international connectivity options between Indonesia and several Asian nations.
The CANDLE Cable System is being developed through a collaboration between XLSMART, Meta, Globe Telecom, IPS Inc., Telekom Malaysia, and SoftBank Japan, with NEC serving as the technology partner. This collaboration is part of the construction of a submarine cable system connecting Indonesia with Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan.
The selection of Tanjung Bemban, Batam, as one of the CANDLE landing points considers the growth potential of western Indonesia, particularly Batam, which serves as a hub for numerous hyperscalers and telecommunications companies. This position makes Batam strategic for the development of international connectivity and the data centre ecosystem.
The CANDLE network will also connect data centres in Batam with countries along its route. This connectivity will support the needs of enterprise customers for high-capacity, reliable, and scalable services, including developments in cloud computing, AI, and various digital services.
Andrijable added, “For enterprise customers, CANDLE provides wider, high-capacity, reliable, and scalable international connectivity options. These capabilities are essential to meet the evolving needs of companies as the use of data and digital services continues to grow.”
In its implementation, XLSMART continues to coordinate with the government and relevant stakeholders. The government supports the development of CANDLE, while the licensing process is ongoing to ensure the project is executed in accordance with applicable provisions and regulations.
For Batam, the presence of a CANDLE landing point presents an opportunity to further strengthen its role in the regional digital ecosystem. Connectivity with several Asian countries can support the development of data centres and digital-based business activities in the region.
Andrijanto emphasised, “CANDLE is not just about building new connectivity routes, but about opening wider access for Indonesia to the regional digital ecosystem. We hope this infrastructure can benefit the business world, support the growth of the digital ecosystem, and strengthen Indonesia’s position in the development of Asia’s digital economy.”