INDONESIA: Facebook on Monday announced the plan of connecting Singapore and Indonesia to North America through two new undersea cables.
The global giant has partnered with Google and several regional telecommunication companies for the project. The aim of the project is to boost internet connection between the regions.
The undersea cables, according to the Facebook Vice President of Network Investments, Kevin Salvadori, will be the first to directly connect North America to some of the main parts of Indonesia.
Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world. It is also one of the top active markets for Facebook with over 270 million active internet users.
Echo is being built in partnership with Alphabet’s Google and Indonesian telecommunications’ company XL Axiata. It is projected to be completed by 2023.
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Bifrost is being bulit in partnership with Telin, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Telkomsel, and Singaporean conglomerate Keppel.
It is due to be completed by 2024.
Next Step
Besides the project in South-Asia, Facebook was also considering to broaden its subsea plans globally, including with the Pacific Light Cable Network (PLCN), another Facebook undersea cable project.
The 12,800 km PLCN, which is being funded by Facebook and Alphabet ran intro trouble. PCLN was originally intended to link the United States, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines but the U.S government resisted over plans for a Hong Kong conduit.
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