Telin partners with ITCO Niaga to extend cable to East Malaysia

　　Telin announced that the Indonesia Cable Express II (ICE II) submarine cable system will extend to East Malaysia via Tawau, Sabah, with additional planned links in Sandakan, Kudat and Kota Kinabalu.

　　Telin, Telkom Indonesia's international arm, has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with ITCO Niaga, a Malaysian engineering firm. The two companies will collaborate on planning and development of the ICE II extension in the Malaysian state of Sabah.

　　According to Telin, the ICE II system will establish a new eastward route through Manado. This route will serve as an alternative to the South China Sea corridor, enhancing the resilience of telecom networks in Southeast Asia. The company added that the cable system will mitigate congestion risks and provide scalable capacity to support accelerating demand for cloud computing, digital services and enterprise connectivity.

　　"ICE II will not only deepen connectivity between Indonesia and Singapore but also foster greater regional integration by extending connectivity to East Malaysia. This initiative reaffirms Telin's dedication to advancing Southeast Asia's digital ecosystem," said Azmal Yahya, Telin chief of product, in a statement.

　　Anita Aqeela Hiong, managing director of ITCO Niaga, noted that expanding the ICE II cable system to East Malaysia will significantly reinforce Sabah's digital backbone. This expanded infrastructure is expected to stimulate investment opportunities, empower local businesses and improve Internet access for communities throughout the region.

　　"Our collaboration with Telin on ICE II marks a strategic step toward Malaysia's digital transformation objectives, particularly for Sabah. Enhanced connectivity will drive socio-economic growth, broaden digital inclusivity, and increase the region's competitiveness," she added.

　　Investment in Indonesia's digital future

　　The ICE 2 system is part of Telin's ICE program, which was announced in September 2023. The goal is to build seven separate cable systems by the end of 2028 that will connect Indonesia to Japan, the United States, the middle East, Europe and Australasia.

　　The project is still in the development stage, with partnerships being formed and plans being finalized. It represents a significant investment in Indonesia's digital infrastructure.

　　Last year, Telin and Indosat Hutchison Ooredoo announced their partnership with the ICE II system, which will connect Singapore and Manado in North Sulawesi, with additional links in Surabaya, Makassar and Balikpapan. This partnership involves connecting the points of presence (PoPs) of Indosat and Telin to the system.