Mataram Kupang Cable System (MKCS)

Overview

The Mataram Kupang Cable System (MKCS) is a domestic submarine cable connecting multiple landing points across Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands region. Spanning 1,318 kilometres, the cable serves an intra-Indonesian corridor, linking islands from Lombok eastward through Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, and Timor. It is owned and operated by Telkom Indonesia, the country's state-owned telecommunications provider.

Route and Landings

All seven landing points lie within Indonesia. The cable reaches Pringgabaya on the island of Lombok, Sumbawa Besar and Bima on the island of Sumbawa, Ende and Saraemee on the island of Flores, Waingapu on the island of Sumba, and Kupang on the island of Timor. These landings collectively extend connectivity across a chain of islands that stretches through the eastern portion of the Indonesian archipelago.

Ownership and Operators

Telkom Indonesia is the sole owner of the Mataram Kupang Cable System. As Indonesia's primary state-owned telecommunications company, Telkom Indonesia operates an extensive domestic network spanning both terrestrial and submarine infrastructure across the archipelago.

Status and Timeline

The Mataram Kupang Cable System was declared ready for service in 2011 and has been in operation since that year, providing submarine connectivity across its seven Indonesian landing points.

Regional Context

The MKCS operates as a domestic intra-island system within Indonesia, distinct in purpose and scale from the international long-haul cables that also land in the country. Regional peers such as Bifrost, Echo, and Apricot — each exceeding 11,000 kilometres — are intercontinental systems connecting Indonesia to destinations across the Pacific and beyond, with ready-for-service dates in 2025 and later. Cables such as Asia Connect Cable-1 and Asia United Gateway East are planned for service in 2028 and 2029 respectively. At 1,318 kilometres, the MKCS occupies a different tier, focused on inter-island connectivity rather than international long-distance transmission.

Strategic Role

By linking seven landing points across the Lesser Sunda island chain, the Mataram Kupang Cable System provides submarine-based connectivity to a geographically dispersed set of communities in eastern Indonesia. The concentration of landings across Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba, and Timor reflects the practical challenge of extending reliable connectivity through an archipelagic geography where terrestrial alternatives are limited or unavailable.