Telkom Indonesia Restores 4G in Papua and Maluku While Addressing Subsea Cable Issues

Telkom Indonesia has successfully restored 4G internet services in Papua province and the Aru Islands of Maluku, following the repair of a damaged subsea cable that had caused significant disruption. Telkomsel, the mobile branch of Telkom Indonesia, addressed the issue quickly after the affected backup cable caused outages in nine regions. This restoration brings relief to residents and businesses in impacted districts, including Mimika, Asmat, Mappi, Dogiyai, Paniai, Deiyai, Waropen, Nabire, and the Aru Islands.

Prompt Restoration in Maluku and Papua

According to a report from the Antara news agency, the cable failure was located on the connection between the port towns of Dobo and Tual in Maluku. Despite the complexity of such technical operations, Yasrinaldi, GM of Telkomsel for Maluku and Papua operations, confirmed the successful restoration of 4G services in all nine affected regions. The incident highlights the critical role of subsea cables in maintaining connectivity in Indonesia’s vast archipelagic geography. Communities can now resume utilizing reliable internet access for communication, business, and essential services.

Another Subsea Cable Break Impacting Central and Southern Papua

In addition to the resolved cable damage, Telkom is addressing a separate subsea cable failure affecting central and southern Papua since August 16. This issue involves a critical link between Sorong and Merauke. To resolve this, Telkom dispatched a repair vessel last Wednesday, with the restoration timeline projected to be completed by the end of next week. The company’s proactive efforts emphasize their commitment to ensuring robust telecommunications infrastructure, even in the face of technical setbacks.

Customer Support During Disruption

Telkomsel has implemented measures to compensate customers for the disruptions. Prepaid users in the impacted areas are eligible for replacement data to account for unused internet access during the outage. Additionally, postpaid customers, including those using mobile and home broadband services, will receive pro-rated discounts reflecting the duration of the service disruption. These customer-first policies not only rebuild trust but also highlight Telkomsel’s efforts to mitigate the impact of unforeseen technical issues.

The Importance of Reliable Connectivity

Indonesia’s dependence on subsea cables for stable connectivity underscores the challenges of maintaining telecommunications infrastructure across its 17,000 islands. Incidents such as these reinforce the need for robust backup plans and rapid response protocols to minimize downtime. As internet access becomes increasingly essential for both personal and economic activities, Telkom’s swift and strategic response serves as a reassurance of their role in empowering connectivity nationwide. This milestone also positions the company as a key player in advancing digital infrastructure across Indonesia’s remote regions.