Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC), PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), and ITCO Niaga Sdn Bhd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the Indonesia Cable Express II (ICE II) subsea cable system. The agreement was formalised during the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2025, held on 22 October at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching.
The ICE II system is designed to be a high-capacity fibre-optic submarine cable network, connecting Singapore to Manado, with further links to North Asia and the United States. This infrastructure will include branching points to strategic locations such as Batam, Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Borneo Island, enhancing connectivity for regional data centres (DCs) and providing an alternative route to the congested South China Sea corridor.
The collaboration aims to meet the increasing demand for high-speed transmission capacity and support the region’s growing needs for artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and other digital technologies. Dato Ir Ts Sudarnoto Osman, CEO of SDEC, stated, “This collaboration is part of SDEC’s effort to enhance Sarawak’s international connectivity that will catalyse investment of AI and Green Data Centre.”
Budi Satria Dharma Purba, CEO of Telin, highlighted the significance of the partnership, noting that it represents “a pivotal milestone in our journey towards a more interconnected and digitally empowered region.” The ICE II system is expected to drive innovation and digital services growth, positioning Southeast Asia as a key player in the global digital economy.
