Java-Kalimantan-Sulawesi (JAKASUSI): connecting Indonesia's major islands
The Java-Kalimantan-Sulawesi (JAKASUSI) submarine cable spans 1,100 kilometers, linking three key islands in Indonesia: Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi. Owned by Indosat Ooredoo, the cable has been in service since 2006 according to GeoCables database records. Its landing points are
Aeng Batu Batu (Sulawesi),
Banyu Urip (Java), and
Takesung (Kalimantan), strategically positioned to enhance connectivity across these regions.
What makes JAKASUSI particularly interesting is the scarcity of publicly available technical details about its design and capacity. The cable's design capacity, fiber pair count, supplier, and specific technological features remain undisclosed, leaving room for speculation about its precise capabilities. Additionally, while GeoCables lists the ready-for-service year as 2006, no conflicting dates have surfaced in industry sources, making this timeline relatively uncontested.
Quick facts
| Length |
1,100 km |
| Ready-for-service year |
2006 (GeoCables database) |
| Owner |
Indosat Ooredoo |
| Status |
In service |
| Design capacity |
Not disclosed |
| Fiber pairs |
Not disclosed |
| Supplier |
Not disclosed |
| Landing points |
Aeng Batu Batu (Sulawesi), Banyu Urip (Java), Takesung (Kalimantan) |
| Other cables at Banyu Urip |
Jakarta Surabaya Cable System (JAYABAYA) |
| Other cables at Takesung |
SJJK |
Route
The JAKASUSI cable connects three significant landing points in Indonesia: Aeng Batu Batu on Sulawesi, Banyu Urip on Java, and Takesung on Kalimantan. This route traverses a diverse geographical corridor, linking the densely populated island of Java with the resource-rich regions of Kalimantan and Sulawesi. The cable's placement reflects Indonesia's need to bridge its archipelagic geography and support growing demand for telecommunications infrastructure.
Banyu Urip, a landing site on Java, is also served by the Jakarta Surabaya Cable System (JAYABAYA), which provides additional connectivity within Java. Similarly, Takesung on Kalimantan is connected to the SJJK cable, offering redundancy and alternative routing options in case of disruptions.
Why it was built and what it carries
JAKASUSI was constructed to improve connectivity among Indonesia's major islands, facilitating communication and data transfer across the archipelago. As Indonesia's economy and population have grown, so too has the demand for reliable telecommunications infrastructure. While specific data about the cable's capacity and usage is not publicly available, it most likely supports a mix of voice, data, and internet traffic, serving both consumer and enterprise needs.
The cable's strategic route complements Indonesia's broader efforts to expand digital access and reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas. By linking Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi, JAKASUSI plays a role in enabling economic development and social connectivity across the region.
History: what can be established
According to GeoCables records, JAKASUSI became ready for service in 2006. No alternative dates have been reported in industry sources, suggesting that this timeline is accurate. Indosat Ooredoo, the cable's owner, has been a key player in Indonesia's telecommunications sector, and its involvement in JAKASUSI aligns with its broader strategy of expanding connectivity across the country.
Publicly available documentation does not provide details about the cable's construction process, supplier, or initial deployment challenges. However, standard industry practices for submarine cable installation would have included detailed seabed surveys, cable laying operations using specialized ships, and the deployment of repeaters if required to maintain signal integrity over long distances.
Capacity and technology
The design capacity of JAKASUSI is not publicly disclosed, nor are details about its fiber pair count, supplier, or specific technological features. Without operator documentation, attributing these characteristics would be speculative. Given its ready-for-service date of 2006, the cable likely employs technology appropriate to that era, but whether it has been upgraded since remains unknown.
Latency: the physics
The computed one-way light propagation latency for JAKASUSI's 1,100 km wet segment is approximately 5.4 milliseconds. This yields a theoretical round-trip time (RTT) floor of 10.8 milliseconds, assuming light travels through the fiber at 200,000 to 204,000 km/s. Real-world latency measurements would be higher due to additional factors such as land tails, terminal equipment, and routing inefficiencies. No live measurements are currently available for JAKASUSI, and any attempt to estimate end-to-end latency without data would be speculative.
Redundancy: what happens if it breaks
In the event of a disruption to JAKASUSI, redundancy is partially available through other cables landing at Banyu Urip and Takesung. Banyu Urip is served by the Jakarta Surabaya Cable System (JAYABAYA), which provides connectivity within Java. Takesung on Kalimantan is connected to the SJJK cable, offering an alternative route for traffic originating or terminating in Kalimantan. However, the degree to which these cables can fully substitute JAKASUSI's role depends on their capacity and routing configurations.
Repairing submarine cables typically involves deploying specialized vessels to locate and fix the fault. Depending on the nature of the damage and environmental conditions, repairs can take days to weeks.
Bottom line
- JAKASUSI spans 1,100 km, connecting Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.
- Owned by Indosat Ooredoo, it has been in service since 2006 according to GeoCables records.
- Technical details such as design capacity, fiber pairs, and supplier are not publicly disclosed.
- Landing points include Aeng Batu Batu, Banyu Urip, and Takesung.
- Redundancy is partially available through JAYABAYA and SJJK cables at Banyu Urip and Takesung, respectively.
- Theoretical latency for the wet segment is approximately 10.8 ms RTT, though real-world measurements are higher.