Kalasey, Minahasa, 3 October 2024 - PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International, Telin, a subsidiary of Telkom Indonesia, has started the groundbreaking ceremony for its Cable Landing Station (CLS) in Kalasey, Minahasa. This CLS is part of the Bifrost Cable System, a critical infrastructure project connecting Southeast Asia to North America via Indonesia, marking a significant milestone in enhancing Indonesia’s international connectivity.
The Bifrost Cable System, developed through a partnership between Telin, Keppel, and Meta, will directly link Indonesia to the United States, traversing key routes through the Java Sea and Celebes Sea. With this groundbreaking in Minahasa, the cable system will integrate Indonesia’s second international gateway after Batam, supporting the country's eastern region's digital and economic development.
The ceremony marked the installation of the CLS’s first foundation pillar and was attended by notable figures, including Bogi Witjaksono, CEO CFU WIB Telkom Group; Amin Soebagyo, EVP Telkom Regional V; Muhammad Rofik, President Commissioner Telin; Bambang A. Margono, Commissioner Telin; Budi Satria Dharma Purba, CEO Telin; Directors from Telkom Subsidiaries, and Senior Leaders from Telkom and Telin.
The Bifrost Cable System will cater to the rapidly growing connectivity demands in Southeast Asia, providing direct access to North America, lower latency, and network diversity. Equipped with state-of-the-art subsea optical transmission technology, it will benefit a wide range of industries, including telecom operators, OTT providers, cloud service providers, and data centers, offering highly competitive pricing and resilient network capacity.
Bogi Witjaksono, CEO CFU WIB Telkom Group, expressed, “Since 2021, I’ve envisioned Manado as Indonesia’s second gateway for connectivity, and today we see that vision becoming reality. With the groundbreaking of the Minahasa Cable Landing Station (CLS), Manado is set to become the next major hub after Batam and marks a pivotal step in Telkom’s vision to bolster Indonesia’s digital backbone. This new CLS will support the Bifrost cable and future cable systems, reshaping the technology landscape by allowing major tech companies and OTT providers to enter Indonesia through Manado. This development secures Manado as a key global connectivity point, linking Indonesia to the world and meeting the growing demand for seamless global connections. This second gateway in East Indonesia will not only strengthen our network but also create new opportunities for economic development and digital transformation in the Asia-Pacific region.”
The 16,000-kilometer-long Bifrost Cable System, with landing points in Guam, Indonesia, Singapore, and the United States, will play a crucial role in facilitating seamless data flow between Southeast Asia and North America, strengthening the region's digital economy and improving regional cooperation.
Budi Satria Dharma Purba, CEO of Telin, emphasized, “Continuing our vision of building global digital infrastructure, the new CLS will support the Bifrost cable and future cable systems. The BMH and Fronthaul are designed to accommodate up to four cable systems, ensuring future scalability. This year, we’ve also initiated the 7 ICE (Indonesia Cable Express) cable system projects. These initiatives are set to strengthen connectivity in the Manado area, positioning it as the second gateway in Eastern Indonesia and linking it to global subsea cables like IGG, SEA-US, Bifrost, and more. Looking ahead, Telin is actively engaging in additional strategic infrastructure projects aimed at enhancing connectivity and contributing to the global digital society."
The Minahasa CLS is a cornerstone of Indonesia’s digital infrastructure, set to drive innovation, enhance regional collaboration, and support Indonesia’s digital transformation agenda. As Indonesia strengthens its global connectivity links, the Bifrost Cable System will serve as a backbone for the nation’s economic and technological advancement.