Indonesia plans to reduce its reliance on Singapore for internet and digital connectivity by diversifying network routes, according to the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.
Latest Read: Metfone Express Launches, Expands Cambodia’s Digital Ecosystem
“Currently, 90% of our internet traffic depends on Singapore,” said Denny Setiawan, Director of Strategy and Policy for Digital Infrastructure at the ministry.
This reliance stems from Singapore’s role as Southeast Asia’s main digital hub, hosting major subsea cable networks, data centers, and global cloud services.
Subsea cables are seen as critical infrastructure for information and telecommunications. Often described as the “backbone of the global internet”, they can carry more than 99% of the world’s data traffic, including email, webpages, and video calls.
Setiawan emphasized the need for Indonesia to develop alternative digital routes to avoid relying on a single corridor, as concentrating resources increases risk.
He added that Indonesia’s potential as a digital economy hub in Southeast Asia depends on adequate connectivity to serve the nation’s more than 17,000 islands.
“We need diversity in subsea and terrestrial cables for each island,” he said, noting that digital sovereignty is increasingly important as demand for network capacity grows to support artificial intelligence and data-driven centers.
Setiawan also stated that the government is coordinating development plans for data centers, subsea cables, terrestrial networks, and radio frequency spectrums.