Jalapati: a short submarine cable linking Candikusuma and Muncar
The Jalapati submarine cable is a 45-kilometer optical fiber system connecting Candikusuma and Muncar, two locations on the Indonesian island of Java. Owned by CCSI, the cable is listed as in service and was recorded in GeoCables' database as ready for service (RFS) in 2023. This short cable serves as part of the telecommunications infrastructure in the region, providing connectivity between these two coastal points.
What makes Jalapati notable is its relatively short length compared to many other submarine cables, which often span hundreds or thousands of kilometers. Additionally, while the cable's design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technological details are not publicly disclosed, its corridor overlaps entirely with the
Java Bali Cable System (JBCS), raising questions about its role and redundancy in the local network.
Quick facts
| Cable name | Jalapati |
| Length | 45 km |
| Ready for service (RFS) | 2023 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner | CCSI |
| Status | In service |
| Design capacity | Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs | Not disclosed |
| Supplier | Not disclosed |
| Technology | Not disclosed |
| Landing points | Candikusuma (Indonesia); Muncar (Indonesia) |
| Other cables at Candikusuma | Java Bali Cable System (JBCS) |
| Other cables at Muncar | Java Bali Cable System (JBCS) |
| Same corridor alternatives | Java Bali Cable System (JBCS) |
| Computed latency floor (one-way) | ≈ 0.2 ms |
| Computed latency floor (RTT) | ≈ 0.4 ms |
| Live latency measurements | None |
Route
The Jalapati cable connects two landing points on the island of Java: Candikusuma and Muncar. Both locations are situated along the southern coast of Java, with Candikusuma lying to the west and Muncar to the east. This short route spans just 45 kilometers, making it one of the shorter submarine cables in operation.
Geographically, the corridor is entirely within Indonesia, and the cable's route runs parallel to the coastline. This proximity to land simplifies certain aspects of cable installation and maintenance compared to deep-sea cables, which often face more challenging conditions.
Why it was built and what it carries
The specific reasons for building the Jalapati cable are not publicly detailed, but its short length and corridor overlap with the Java Bali Cable System suggest that it may serve as either a supplementary link or a redundancy measure for regional connectivity. Submarine cables of this type often carry internet traffic, data communications, and other telecommunications services, but without disclosed design capacity or technological specifications, the exact nature of its traffic cannot be confirmed.
Given that both landing points are already served by the Java Bali Cable System, Jalapati might provide additional capacity or act as a backup in case of disruptions to the JBCS.
History: what can be established
GeoCables records the Jalapati cable as ready for service in 2023, but publicly available industry sources do not provide independent confirmation of this date. If discrepancies arise in future documentation, plausible explanations could include delays in deployment, differences in definitions of "ready for service," or errors in reporting.
The cable is listed as in service, indicating that it is operational and actively carrying traffic.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technological details of the Jalapati cable are not publicly disclosed. Without operator documentation, attributing these parameters would be speculative. However, as a short regional cable, it is likely to use standard optical fiber technology for telecommunications.
Latency: the physics
The computed latency floor for the Jalapati cable is approximately 0.2 milliseconds for one-way light propagation over its 45-kilometer length. The theoretical round-trip time (RTT) for the wet segment is approximately 0.4 milliseconds. However, real-world latency measurements would be higher due to additional factors such as the land-based network segments, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies. No live latency measurements are currently available for this cable.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
If the Jalapati cable were to experience a fault, the Java Bali Cable System (JBCS) serves as a direct alternative, as it lands at both Candikusuma and Muncar. This redundancy within the corridor ensures that connectivity between the two points can be maintained, albeit with potential impacts on capacity and performance.
Repairing a cable of this length typically involves standard industry practices, such as deploying cable ships to locate and fix the fault. Given its proximity to the coastline, repair operations may be more straightforward compared to deep-sea cables.
Bottom line
- Jalapati is a 45-kilometer submarine cable connecting Candikusuma and Muncar in Indonesia.
- It is owned by CCSI and listed as in service, with a recorded ready-for-service year of 2023.
- Design capacity, fiber pairs, supplier, and technology details are not publicly disclosed.
- Its corridor overlaps entirely with the Java Bali Cable System (JBCS), providing redundancy.
- The computed latency floor is ≈ 0.2 ms one-way and ≈ 0.4 ms RTT for the wet segment.
- No live latency measurements or specific traffic details are available.