LYMINGTON, United Kingdom--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On 18 November 2015 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, a pioneering joint workshop was held by the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) regarding submarine telecommunication cables in Indonesia. These cables are of vital social and economic importance as they underpin the Internet and over 98% of trans-oceanic communications and data transfer. Submarine cables are also a key component of Indonesia’s critical infrastructure as submarine cables provide the ideal means to connect the nation’s thousands of inhabited islands.
The workshop featured an innovative approach to define, discuss, and recommend practical means to enhance the attractiveness for Indonesia to become an important international communications hub, while at the same time bringing sustainable connectivity and reliable communications to even greater island populations within the world’s largest archipelagic nation.
ICPC presenters provided insights into the factors that would lead investors and submarine cable owners and operators to decide on selection of routes and landing locations for international cables. The presentation included information and data on how Indonesia was viewed in this context. Indonesian government presenters commented upon the challenges facing Indonesia in terms of competing domestic regulatory issues. Other presenters reviewed the rights and obligations regarding submarine cables as set out in the United Nations Law of the Sea Convention (UNCLOS) and the submarine cables in the marine environment and natural hazards impacting Indonesia. UNCLOS provides the legal framework for the oceans and is supported by over 166 countries including Indonesia. The ten articles in UNCLOS that address submarine cables are a major reason for the universal success of submarine cables in the modern digital economy.
The workshop was well-attended and included representatives from the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Ministry for Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Finance (including the Directorates General of Tax and Customs and Excise), Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Indonesian Navy, Indonesian Hydrographic Office, and Indonesia State owned companies. ICPC participation included the organisation’s Vice Chairman, International Legal Advisor, International Marine Environmental Advisor, and members of the ICPC Executive Committee. The team included support by ICPC members Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks Ltd., TE SubCom, Global Marine Systems Ltd, Telstra, PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin) and EGS Survey Group.
The workshop produced a number of positive recommendations to better facilitate the process of laying and repairing cables, aimed at substantially reducing the license-processing time, strengthening national capacity in cable-laying vessels and personnel. A number of regulations will be reviewed in order to create better regulatory environment so as to make Indonesia more competitive in the region on underwater cable matters. A series of follow-up meetings among relevant stakeholders will be held internally in Indonesia before the end of 2015 as well as early 2016.
The ICPC will work to continue its partnership with Indonesia members and government agencies.
About ICPC: The International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) was formed in 1958 and its primary goal is to promote the safeguarding of international submarine cables against man-made and natural hazards. The organisation provides a forum for the exchange of technical, legal and environmental information about submarine cables and, with 160 members from over 60 nations, including cable operators, owners, manufacturers, industry service providers, as well as governments, it is the World’s premier submarine cable organisation. For further information about ICPC, visit: www.iscpc.org.
