Jakarta Metro Backbone

It seems that everybody in Jakarta want to have his own metro :-) Currently many companies have built their metro infrastructure to support their business, particularly in big cities such as the Greater Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Bandung etc. These include :

• well known telcos (TELKOM/TSEL, ISAT, XL, other?)
• successfull ISPs (BizNET,CBN, other?)
• VSAT network operators (CSM, Lintasarta, other ?); and
• backbone operators (ICON+,PowerTel,Napinfo,Moratel, other ?)

Recently, PT. iForte Solusi Infotek announced, that they have finished the construction of their fiber optic network which is using (and installed simultaneously with the development of) the TransJakarta busway infrastructure (map see below). They currently offer connection/access services called M-Wifo which are basically WiFi (802.11n compatible) access and fiber bridging. To my guess, it might be a RoF (Radio over Fiber) system.

First Generation Domestic Optical Cable Systems

PT. Indosat has begun to deploy submarine cables since 1985 (optical?). PT. Telkom on the other side has stated that the TIS cable is its first optical submarine cable system.

Recently, according to ASN record, Telkom has already deployed an optical submarine cable system in 90s. Which is true ? Is it only the matter that TIS is international while the other is domestic ?

Wiring Kalimantan

As in the case of Sumatera, the biggest three telcos are developing their optical transmission infrastructure in Kalimantan. As you can see below, they have chosen to follow terrestrial paths approximately parallel to the coastal line of Kalimantan. This might mirror the actual social and economic development in Kalimantan. Festoon optical networks could still be possible to be deployed as backup for current almost linear topology.

National Fiber Optic Backbone

How does Indonesia's backbone currently look like ? How many kilometers of fiber optic cables are laid/buried/mounted nationwide? How are they distributed ? Some of you might already be confronted with such questions. I could not help you with exact answers either :-). But let us make some approximations. If we only consider the three biggest players (Telkom, Indosat, and Excelcomindo), after a quick and dirty calculation and some image processing efforts, I have the following estimates.

Wiring Sumatera

Looking at the telecommunication infrastructure in western Indonesia, Jawa-Bali and
Sumatera are counted among the bests. Long distance transmission across the island is mainly served by terrestrial fiber optic links, which are approximately described in the picture below. This is based on the infrastructure of the three largest telecom operators PT. Telkom, PT. Indosat and PT. Excelcomindo (both existing or under development). The cable owned by PGASKOM (PGN) and possibly that of other operator(s) are not displayed yet. Several links might be inaccurate e.g. the link Pekanbaru-Padang (ISAT?) or Pekanbaru-Pariaman (XL?). Looking at this, to my opinion :

High Performance BackBone (HPBB)

HPBB functions as the main backbone of PT. Telkom in Sumatera. It connects the following places:

• Medan, Pekanbaru, Jambi, Talang-Kelapa, Palembang, BandarLampung, Kalianda, Ciwandan, Cikupa, Jakarta
• Pekanbaru-Padang
• Pekanbaru-Dumai-Bukit Dangas, Batam (partially submarine link)
  

Metro and Access Infrastructures

In providing metro connectivity services, Telkom and Indosat are accompanied by other players. Although they have still a dominant market share, several ISPs and new entrants have entered this market in several cities, especially providing metro IP-based services.

Traditional fixed-line (telephone) access infrastructures are still (almost 100%) owned and operated by Telkom. Other operators including Indosat prioritized development in wireless fixed lines, which obviously need smaller capital investments.

Indonesia's Domestic LD Infrastructures

The majority of terrestrial LD infrastructures is currently owned and operated by 4 players i.e. Telkom, Indosat, XL and ICON+. A subsidiary of PGN - a national gas company - will also enter the market of LD network services (currently it is in the licensing process). Moratel which newly enters the business has progressively expanded its infrastructure and its service area. Moratel will operate its own international cable system, early this year.