Jakarta, 23 June 2022. The Echo Submarine Cable Communication System (SCCS) finally docked at Tanjung Pakis, Karawang Regency, West Java, after several months of undersea construction and deployment. On Wednesday morning (22/6), the "Golden Buoy" arrived in Tanjung Pakis and was towed ashore to be connected to the network owned by PT XL Axiata Tbk (XL Axiata). The arrival of the Golden Buoy was also welcomed by XL Axiata's Director & Chief Technology Officer, I Gede Darmayusa, and representatives from NEC Indonesia. The landing of the Golden Buoy is part of XL Axiata's ongoing commitment to providing better network and service quality to Indonesian customers and people. Specifically, with the addition and availability of fiber optic network infrastructure connecting to the global network. This is also consistent with XL Axiata's efforts to realize the vision of becoming Indonesia's leading converged operator (#1 converged operator), which includes supporting the provision of the fastest internet service for customers and the general public under the slogan "XL Axiata is for Indonesia."
XL Axiata Director & Chief Technology Officer, I Gede Darmayusa said "The arrival of Golden Buoy in Tanjung Pakis is part of a very long series of developments for the Echo Submarine Cable Communication System project, in which fiber optic cables are pulled from California, United States, across the Pacific Ocean, directly to here, and later on to Singapore. The Echo will be connected to XL Axiata's network system once it arrives in Indonesia, which we will then use to improve the quality of internet connection for Indonesian customers and people."
Meta, Google, and XL Axiata collaborated to create Echo Submarine Cable Communication System. This project's construction began in 2021 and scheduled to complete in 2023. The handover of the Echo’s "Golden Buoy" in Tanjung Pakis marks the beginning of the installation of the Echo in Indonesia for a total length of 15,000 km. Tanjung Pakis Beach was selected as a landing point in Indonesia to Singapore and California, USA.
XL Axiata hopes that this project will be completed and will be able to start operating in Q3 2023. Gede claims that his party is looking forward to the benefits of this Echo Submarine Cable Communication System to improve the quality of internet services. The existence of this SCCS will also add an internet connection to the global network, and will strengthen the connection through SCCS’s that XL Axiata already has.
" Echo's SCCS existence will provide XL Axiata with an alternative internet and data access with large capacity abroad, allowing it to improve the quality of internet access for all customers, including corporate and government. Furthermore, the SCCS, which connects Indonesia to North America, will provide direct benefits for internet access, as the public's demand for fast and stable internet access grows. We also hope that the existence of this SCCS will contribute to the expansion of the digital economy in remote areas and Eastern Indonesia "said Gede
Currently, XL Axiata already has several SCCSs that support internet access services to the global network. These SCCSs include SCCS Batam – Sarawak started operating in early June 2022, and SCCS Australia – Indonesia – Singapore operated in October 2018.
Currently, the XL Axiata network covers 34 provinces. Some of the networks have reached out to people in outlying areas and are located near national borders. A total of over 133 thousand BTS, including 83 thousand 4G BTS, and a fiber optic network of over 113,000 kilometers support the strength of XL Axiata's network, allowing it to serve approximately 57 million customers across Indonesia.