technology

Big Tech Aggressively Builds Digital Infrastructure In Indonesia

During a media meeting entitled Ngopi Bareng Komdigi, Thursday (5/6/2025), in Jakarta, Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid said that a number of submarine cable communication system (SKKL) investors will enter Indonesia. Meta and Google, for example. 

According to Meutya, the two giant US technology companies plan to increase their SKKL investment through Indonesia. The Komdigi Ministry is currently in the process of discussing with both of them to find out how long the additional cable will be. 

Meutya did not specify whether the additional SKKL investment that the two companies will work on is included in the Brifost, Echo, Apricot SKKL projects, or a completely new project. "We are still in the process of negotiating and persuading them. They are considering adding and are committed to it," he said. 

As is known, in April 2021, Meta and Google announced that they were preparing two direct SKKL networks between the US and Indonesia in order to reduce dependence on internet access through the Singapore and Hong Kong networks. The two submarine cable communication system (SKKL) networks named Echo and Bifrost are the result of Meta's initiative. 

For the SKKL Bifrost network, Meta invested together with Telin (an international business company from Telkom) and Keppel (a Singaporean conglomerate). While for SKKL Echo, the investment costs were borne by Meta together with Google, and XL Axiata (now XLSmart). 

Initially, Echo was planned to be operational in 2023, while Bifrost in 2024. However, citing the Submarine Cable Map page supported by the telecommunications market research firm TeleGeography, Bifrost is ready to serve in the third quarter of 2025 and Echo in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

Tag: Big Tech Digital Infrastructure Menkomdigi