JaSuKa

Overview

The JaSuKa submarine cable is a regional telecommunications network within Indonesia, connecting seven key coastal and island locations. It has been operational since 2006, providing critical connectivity across the Indonesian archipelago. The cable is owned and operated by Telkom Indonesia, one of the country’s leading telecommunications providers. While the exact length of the cable remains unspecified, the JaSuKa system plays a vital role in linking diverse regions of Indonesia, which is composed of over 17,000 islands. This cable supports a range of services, including internet access, voice communication, and data transmission, ensuring connectivity for millions of people in this geographically dispersed nation.

Route and Landings

The JaSuKa cable system connects seven landing points across Indonesia, strategically chosen to serve major population centers and economic hubs. The landing points are Bandar Lampung, Batam, Dumai, Jakarta, Pontianak, Tanjung Pakis, and Tanjung Pandan. These locations span several islands, including Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Belitung, reflecting the cable’s role in bridging Indonesia's diverse geography.

Bandar Lampung, located on the southern tip of Sumatra, is a growing economic hub. Batam, part of the Riau Islands Province, is a major industrial and commercial center near Singapore. Dumai, on Sumatra’s eastern coast, is a key port city with strategic importance for regional trade. Jakarta, the capital and largest city of Indonesia, serves as a central communications hub for the nation. Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan on Borneo, expands connectivity to the western part of the island. Tanjung Pakis, located in West Java, and Tanjung Pandan, on Belitung Island, enhance coverage to smaller yet significant regions, ensuring broader access to telecommunications services.

Ownership and History

The JaSuKa cable is fully owned and operated by Telkom Indonesia, a state-owned enterprise and the largest telecommunications company in the country. The cable was declared Ready for Service (RFS) in 2006, marking its official entry into operation. This system was developed to address Indonesia’s unique connectivity challenges, stemming from its archipelagic geography, which necessitates robust submarine cable networks to link its islands. Telkom Indonesia has been instrumental in deploying and maintaining such infrastructure, ensuring reliable communication services for both urban and remote areas.

The JaSuKa cable is part of Telkom Indonesia's broader strategy to improve national telecommunications infrastructure. By connecting key cities and regions, it supports economic development, government operations, and public services. Its deployment in 2006 was a significant milestone in the modernization of Indonesia’s digital and communications landscape, providing a backbone for domestic data and voice traffic.

What Our Measurements Show

Our live monitoring of the JaSuKa cable indicates that it operates across six measured corridors, reflecting its extensive reach within Indonesia. The best round-trip time (RTT) recorded is 19 milliseconds, showcasing the cable’s efficiency in transmitting data over short distances. However, the average RTT across all corridors is 230 milliseconds, suggesting variability in performance depending on the specific route and distance between landing points.

This variability underscores the challenges of maintaining consistent performance across a geographically vast and diverse network. The JaSuKa cable’s role in connecting remote and urban areas alike means that it must traverse different terrains and underwater environments, which can impact latency. Nonetheless, the cable remains a critical component of Indonesia’s telecommunications infrastructure, supporting the connectivity needs of millions of users across the archipelago.