The Indonesian government has engaged with Papua New Guinea for many years on the development of a bilateral telecommunications project – the Pukpuk Project (also known as the Puk-Puk 1 submarine cable). As a result of this cooperation, the Pukpuk Project has laid the groundwork for a digital future. The establishment and use of a submarine cable (connecting both countries) will create a direct and immediate path for international data traffic between both countries. It is anticipated that the establishment of the new cable will create additional opportunity for development for both countries through its provision of internet connectivity. This cable project has been described as one of the most important bilateral projects currently being undertaken; by providing new levels of digital connectivity, the new submarine cable will foster increased levels of economic and social interaction – both within the nation and beyond! The successful completion of Puk-Puk 1 is not only an astounding technological breakthrough, but it also provides a basis for the development of an expansive, heavily used network of communication across a number of countries, and it will open up new avenues for economic activity through the establishment of new connections between businesses and consumers in a region of the world that contains a large number of very densely populated areas, as well as an area of the world that has significant gruelling conditions to operate within.
The new submarine cable was officially opened in Jayapura and includes a combination of materials, including fibre optic cable, steel and new engineering technology. It is a part of the Pukpuk Submarine Cable System and will add strength to the strategic relationship between our countries, as well as help bridge the digital divide in Eastern Indonesia by improving Internet connectivity and accessibility for millions of people living in remote areas of the country.
For decades, connecting Papua has been a challenge due to a rugged landscape comprised of mountains and islands that are widely dispersed. A disruption in one network may impact communications for great distances through an affected area. However, with the commissioning of the Pukpuk infrastructure in Jayapura, they now have an independent second international data transfer route – this significantly improves the reliability of the entire system and minimises outages.
The Pukpuk Cable system will extend from the city of Vanimo to the cities of Madang and Port Moresby and connect to the SEA-US Cable system, which is one of the largest digital highways serving the Pacific region, thereby providing linkages between foreign countries and the countries served by SEA-US. The Pukpuk cable will enhance the transfer of electronic data, provide a better ability to conduct international business, provide greater access to cloud services, and support the transition to an AI-dependent global economy.
The Pukpuk infrastructure has a tremendously positive effect on the world at large. Most notably, it has greatly increased the speed of Internet service internationally, but its positive impact goes far beyond that. Long-distance, undersea cable systems, rather than satellite systems, transport approximately 95% of total international Internet traffic. Therefore, undersea cable systems serve as hidden highways located around the world that provide critical infrastructure to support the rapidly growing global Internet. As a result, the Pukpuk project has positioned both Indonesia and Papua New Guinea within the global record of strategic, international undersea cables.
The name “Pukpuk” derives from the Tok Pisin language term for crocodile, which is why it’s an appropriate name for the Pukpuk cable. Crocodiles also represent different things in many cultures throughout the Pacific area – including strength, tenacity (also referred to as ‘endurance’), and protection. These characteristics are reflected in the Pukpuk cables’ construction, which creates a new digital corridor between countries in Australia and the South Pacific.
The completion of the Pukpuk Cable Project represents a key milestone for Papua New Guinea as it looks towards becoming further integrated into the global digital economy. For Indonesia, this cable will serve to reinforce the country’s commitment to providing digital economy access to all regions across the country, including long-distance connections from the eastern provinces of Papua New Guinea to the capital city.
The Pukpuk Cable will serve more than just as an electronic medium for transmitting information in today’s data-driven society; instead, it will also facilitate the dream-sharing possibilities that provide opportunities for connectivity for future generations of the people of the Pacific.
