Yogyakarta Targets 193 Roads to Be Free of Overhead Cables
The Yogyakarta City Government is targeting 193 major roads to soon be free from the issue of disruptive overhead cables that mar the urban aesthetic. These tangled aerial cables will be addressed using the fibre optic ducting method, which involves relocating cables from overhead (electricity poles) to underground using special protective pipes (subduct).
“We are accelerating the development of fibre optic ducting infrastructure for 193 roads that are cluttered due to the density of overhead electricity cables,” stated Deputy Mayor of Yogyakarta, Wawan Harmawan, on Friday, 17 April 2026.
Wawan explained that for the hundreds of roads targeted for removal of overhead cables, calculations show a need to develop fibre optic ducting with a total length of 199,337 metres. Therefore, the work will be carried out in stages.
To date, the completed ducting infrastructure covers access roads at the entry points to Yogyakarta City spanning 10,500 metres, distributed across 15 major roads. Some of these include Jalan C. Simanjuntak, Laksda Adisucipto, Jenderal Sudirman, KH Ahmad Dahlan, and Kenari in front of the City Hall complex.
Wawan stated that for the initial beautification project, funding still came from the private sector through corporate social responsibility (CSR) schemes. To continue the beautification of tangled overhead cables, the Yogyakarta City Government this week discussed it with the Association of Telecommunications Network Providers (APJATEL) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) and the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers (APJII) DIY.
Wawan outlined that the next beautification plans will be divided into four main zones, including the Philosophical Axis area covering roads stretching along the Tugu-Malioboro to Keraton area. The beautification will use the u-ditch method and PVC pipes as underground cable protectors.
In addition to building underground routes, the Yogyakarta City Government will simultaneously cut overhead cables and remove unused fibre optic poles to reduce visual pollution. This step also integrates the use of public street lighting poles (PJU) as attachment points for fibre optics to make it more efficient and tidy.
“The absence of tangled overhead cables can enhance Yogyakarta’s attractiveness as a Tourist City,” he said. According to Wawan, coordination with telecommunications operators is being carried out to ensure the entire cable transition process runs smoothly without disrupting public services.
Representative of the Association of Indonesian Internet Service Providers (APJII) DIY, Joko Prasetyo, assessed that relocating cables underground or ducting is currently a sustainable effort for network security. “This comprehensive ducting also provides certainty for internet service providers to develop more reliable infrastructure,” he said.