The Barat Timur Indonesia (BTI) subsea cable system being developed by Indonesian operator Super Sistem and APTelecom has cleared a key hurdle after the partners secured corridor approval for the system from relevant authorities.
According to a statement released by Super Sistem on Tuesday, the approval is a critical step forward for the project, as it ensures that the BTI subsea cable route complies with regulatory requirements while addressing both technical and environmental considerations within Indonesian waters.
Super Sistem said the BTI project is now ready to move to the next phase, in which APTelecom will conduct a comprehensive marine survey to validate and refine the subsea route in detail.
“Securing corridor approval demonstrates the progress we are making to turn BTI from concept into reality,” said Super Sistem CEO Kelvan Firman in a statement. “The upcoming marine survey will be a vital step to ensure that BTI is built on the strongest possible technical and environmental foundation.”
Super Sistem and APTelecom have been working together on the BTI system since July 2023, when APTelecom was tapped to conduct a feasibility study for the project funded by the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). APTelecom has also been tasked with implementing and managing installation of the system.
Earlier this year, APTelecom began engaging prospective customers on Super Sistem’s behalf to undertake presales for the system.
The BTI system will span more than 4,700 km and connect Batam, Jakarta, and Manado through seven landing stations across the archipelago. Super Sistem has said it also intends to connect BTI to its Super Sistem Batam Singapore (SSBS) cable system that will connect Batam to Singapore.
Both the BTI and SSBS systems are scheduled to be ready for service in the fourth quarter of 2026.
