Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad (SDEC), PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia International (Telin), and ITCO Niaga Sdn Bhd (ITCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the planning and development of the Indonesia Cable Express II (ICE II) subsea cable system. The signing occurred during the opening ceremony of the International Digital Economy Conference Sarawak (IDECS) 2025 on October 22, 2025, at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK).
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The event was witnessed by the Premier of Sarawak, The Right Honourable Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg. SDEC was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Dato Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman. Telin and ITCO were represented by Mr. Budi Satria Dharma Purba, Chief Executive Officer of Telin, and Madam Anita Aqeela Hiong, Managing Director of ITCO, respectively. The ICE II system is a high-capacity, integrated fiber-optic submarine cable network that will connect Singapore to Manado, with further connections to North Asia and the United States.
It will feature major branching points to strategic locations such as Batam, Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Borneo Island through Balikpapan, Kuching (Sarawak), and Tawau (Sabah). This interconnection is designed to meet the increasing demand for high-speed transmission capacity between regional data centers, linking key data centers, including those in Sarawak, to Singapore.
By introducing a new eastward route via Manado, the ICE II system offers an alternative to the congested South China Sea corridor, thereby enhancing the resilience of Southeast Asia’s digital infrastructure. It will also play a crucial role in supporting the region’s growing needs for artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud platforms, smart city initiatives, and other emerging digital technologies.
Dato Ir. Ts. Sudarnoto Osman stated:
This collaboration is part of SDEC’s effort to enhance Sarawak’s international connectivity that will catalyze investment of AI and green data centers and serve as an enabler for adoption of [the] digital economy for Sarawakians.
Budi Satria Dharma Purba, CEO of Telin, added:
This partnership represents a pivotal milestone in our journey toward a more interconnected and digitally empowered region. By linking multiple key locations across Indonesia and expanding internationally to Singapore and Malaysia, ICEII system unites the strengths of SDEC, ITCO, and Telin. Together, we are committed to delivering seamless, resilient connectivity that drives data-powered growth, fosters deeper regional collaboration, and accelerates the digital transformation that will shape the future of Southeast Asia.
The ICE II system is expected to provide faster and more reliable connectivity for consumers and businesses, serving as a catalyst for innovation, digital services growth, and technological advancement across Sarawak and beyond.
