Through Telin, TelkomGroup strengthens the resilience of Papua’s network and opens a new digital connectivity corridor in the Asia-Pacific region.
JAYAPURA, Indonesia, May 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk, through its operating company, PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), officially opened the Pukpuk submarine cable system (Puk-Puk 1) in Telkom Witel Jayapura, Papua, Friday (8/5). This milestone marks a new chapter in strengthening digital connectivity in Eastern Indonesia while strengthening bilateral collaboration between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea in the development of cross-border telecommunications infrastructure.
More than just a cable system, Pukpuk represents a bridge between nations, connecting communities, opening opportunities and bringing the Asia-Pacific region closer together through resilient digital infrastructure. The project is expected to open a new connectivity corridor in the Asia-Pacific region, accelerating digital economic growth, expanding digital access to communities, and strengthening connectivity between border areas and eastern Indonesia.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by Indonesian Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Angga Raka Prabowo, Telkom Indonesia President Director Dian Siswarini, Papua New Guinea Consular Representative in Jayapura Leon Galemo, Papua Provincial Government Representative L. Christian Sohilait and PNG DataCo CEO Paul Komboi.
In his speech, Deputy Minister Angga Raka Prabowo highlighted that accelerating digital transformation remains one of Indonesia’s national priorities in building a more advanced, inclusive and globally competitive nation.
“Connectivity must be developed equally, sustainably and inclusively so that every region, including eastern Indonesia, has the same opportunity to develop within the digital economy ecosystem,” Angga said.
He also expressed appreciation for TelkomGroup’s commitment to strengthening national connectivity. “The Pukpuk cable plays an important role in creating more reliable and resilient connectivity that will benefit communities across eastern Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and beyond,” he added.
The Pukpuk submarine cable system is the first cross-border cable in the Asia-Pacific region to directly connect Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Operated by TelkomGroup, the Jayapura landing station serves as a strategic connectivity gateway to Kumul Telkom Holdings’ network in Papua New Guinea, providing Vanimo with capacity across several PNG provinces.
Beyond telecommunications infrastructure, the project reflects a strategic partnership between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea aimed at shaping regional connectivity, connecting nations and paving the way for the future. The synergy between Telin and PNG DataCo, further strengthened by the signing of a commercial agreement on the same day, marks an important step towards deeper network integration and stronger digital connectivity in Asia Pacific.
With the launch of the cable system, Jayapura now has two independent connectivity routes. The first route connects Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua, while the newly inaugurated second route connects Papua New Guinea towns like Vanimo, Madang and Port Moresby to Jayapura, continuing to Manado in North Sulawesi and the United States, via the SEA-US cable system.
This alternative connectivity route significantly improves the resilience of Papua’s digital infrastructure through route diversity, ensuring more reliable and uninterrupted services. As Papua’s connectivity hub, Jayapura is now better positioned to support regional digital economic growth and unlock new economic opportunities through world-class infrastructure.
Telkom Indonesia President Director Dian Siswarini said the Pukpuk project reflects TelkomGroup’s strong commitment to developing equitable connectivity in Eastern Indonesia.
“Through Pukpuk, TelkomGroup not only strengthens Papua’s digital infrastructure, but also reaffirms that Eastern Indonesia is an integral part of the global connectivity ecosystem. We want to ensure that no region is left behind in the digital age.
“The Pukpuk cable demonstrates how TelkomGroup, through Telin, continues to bridge the digital divide between nations. We are proud to participate in a historic milestone in Asia-Pacific connectivity and remain committed to providing world-class digital infrastructure for a more connected future,” concluded Dian.
Paul Komboi, CEO of PNG DataCo, highlighted that the PUKPUK-1 cable is the tangible result of a partnership built over almost a decade.
“PUKPUK-1 is more than just a cable. It is a bridge between nations, a platform for economic opportunities and a foundation for digital transformation,” he said. He further noted that the geographical proximity between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea should naturally be strengthened through reliable digital connectivity, and the collaboration with Telin is a clear manifestation of this shared vision.
Media Contact: Pri Handoko – Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Email: corcomm@telin.net | Telephone: +62811 8400 999
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SOURCE PT Telkom Indonesia (Persero) Tbk; PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin)
