4/1/2022 -  PT Communication Cable Systems Indonesia Tbk. (CCSI) and PT NAP Info Lintas Nusa (Matrix NAP Info) announced that they have entered a joint venture—PT Varuna Cahaya Santosa—to develop a high-capacity, submarine network called the Varuna Cable System (VCS).

A press release said that CCSI will make the 48-core submarine fiber optic cable. The light-weight repeaterless system will include single- or double-armored cable, that meets multiple certifications. The construction of this network is targeted to be completed within 24 months, with cable deployment following the national corridor.

The 3,400-km submarine fiber optic cable will connect Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Labuan Bajo, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Bawean, Madura Island and return back to Java island to form a loop network in Indonesia.

The two companies also reported that a third company, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., expressed interest in joining the joint venture. “The CCSI/Matrix NAP Info/Mitsui cooperation and collaboration shows a high commitment in the services provided to cross-industry strategic partners who will use the network from VCS,” said Peter Djatmiko, president director of CCSI and VCS.

CCSI notes that is the only Indonesian cable manufacturer capable of producing submarine cables. Its factory, in the Krakatau Industrial Estate in Cilegon, Banten, has annual production capacity of 1.6 million fiber km.

CCSI was founded in 1996. It was formerly known as PT Siemens Kabel Optik, established as a joint-venture company with Siemens AG (Germany). It was later acquired by Corning Inc., before being taken over by CCSI. Since then, CCSI has continued its long partnership with Corning, which continues to supply optical fiber for the CSSI factory.