A (Possibly) New Competitor for Matrix and Jakabare

A competitor or a friend ? :-) It could actually be a potential partner if you want to connect to Western Australia!

I don't remember precisely how, but yesterday my Firefox browser took me to Ochre's website. Honestly, I've never heard Ochre before, so I was a bit surprised; similar to the moment where I read about the MCS project for the first time.

Facts, Plans & Quotes (Brett O’Riley, Subtelforum):

• It will connect Singapore (possibly Changi), Jakarta and Perth
• "The proposed multi-terabit network would link Perth to Jakarta and Singapore, with initial branches to oil and gas facilities at Geraldton and Dampier"
  
• RFS : Q2/2010
• Capacity : 2 FP; channels ? design ? lit ?
• CAPEX : approx. USD 150 mn
• The project is "modelled on an earlier project mooted by Nava Networks that was abandoned following the 2002 market collapse"
• "It was confirmed that Asia Netcom had agreed to provide landing stations in Singapore" (ANC --> PACNET)
• "While only 10% of Australia’s international traffic originates on the west coast, service providers have become increasingly concerned about the lack of diversity and the high prices available on the current SEA-ME-WE-3 link"
  

Ochre's SIA (Singapore Indonesia Australia) Cable Plan; Courtesy of Ochre Services

Jakarta Metro Backbone

It seems that everybody in Jakarta want to have his own metro :-) Currently many companies have built their metro infrastructure to support their business, particularly in big cities such as the Greater Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, Bandung etc. These include :

• well known telcos (TELKOM/TSEL, ISAT, XL, other?)
• successfull ISPs (BizNET,CBN, other?)
• VSAT network operators (CSM, Lintasarta, other ?); and
• backbone operators (ICON+,PowerTel,Napinfo,Moratel, other ?)

Recently, PT. iForte Solusi Infotek announced, that they have finished the construction of their fiber optic network which is using (and installed simultaneously with the development of) the TransJakarta busway infrastructure (map see below). They currently offer connection/access services called M-Wifo which are basically WiFi (802.11n compatible) access and fiber bridging. To my guess, it might be a RoF (Radio over Fiber) system.

Other related public information about iForte:

• the fiber optic backbone spans/follows 10 TransJakarta corridors
• CAPEX : USD 10 mn.
• Length : approx. 250 km
• RFS : June 2008
• Services : fiber optic connections, WiFi mesh 802.11n connections
• Projection : +/- 2,000 cust. (connection point) each year
• VIPs: Peter Djatmiko, Andrie Tjioe
  

Map of TransJakarta Busway, Courtesy of Maximilian Doerrbecker (Chumwa), taken from Wikipedia

Trans-Pacific Express (TPE) Cable System

TPE (Trans-Pacific Express) is claimed to be "the first next-generation undersea optical cable system directly linking the US and China" and "the first major undersea system to land on the US West Coast in more than seven years". TPE will have a more than 60 times the overall capacity of the existing cable directly linking the US and China, and thus it will be a major enhancement to the current cable systems between these nations.

TPE links China (Chongming and Qingdao), South Korea, Taiwan, and USA (Nedonna Beach). TPE is owned by a joint venture (ownership is evently split) between 6 telcos: China Telecom, China Netcom, China Unicom, Chunghwa Telecom, Korea Telecom, Verizon Communications, AT&T and NTT (the two latest joined in 03/2008).

• Consortium agreement: early 2007 ?
• CAPEX : USD 500 mn
• Length : approx. 17,700 km (11,000 miles)
• RFS : August (Q3) 2008 ??
• Capacity : 5.12 Tbps design, 1.28 Tbps initial (other source 2.56 Tbps); 10 Gbps channel; FP? Lambdas?; customers may utilize individual connections running at 10 Gbps

If TPE and AAG are completed, AT&T shall be the first large company having capacity on both systems. And if they have connections from China/Taiwan to Phillipines/Guam they may offer survivable transpacific connection services earlier than PACNET EAC-Pacific. True??

Source/Courtesy TPE Consortium?, taken from Wikipedia

Bandwidth "Under Water"

As Asia NetCom (currently PACNET) introduced its idea for EAC Pacific one or two years ago, they underlined the fact that due to underserved routes from South and South-East Asia, Japan-US connections have become a bottleneck. They have shown a picture similar to one below. It has attracted my attention since it split Asia into three regions together with their connectivity parameters. At least, it was something different than we might see in the free version of TeleGeography's reports/databases :-D CMIIW!

After a closer look at the given bandwidth figures and comparing with other publications (TeleGeography etc.), I have to conclude that it isn't real i.e. ANC possibly gave the capacity based on design numbers (fully equiped system). Right ?? Wrong ??

What is actually in the water ? The second pic gives us a hint for trans-pacific segment based on information provided by REACH.

How Much Bandwidth do Indonesian ISPs Have ?

Though there are many Internet and NAP service providers running their business since several years ago, "big Internet pipes" are only owned by the (former-telco-only) giants: Indosat, Telkom, Excelcomindo, and Telkomsel. They may have a total international IP bandwidth more than 1 Gbps. Unfortunately, as usual :-D I don't have complete, official, clear, and confirmable numbers for that. Maybe next time, I would come with a simple calculation using several rough statistics found in the media and balanced with some cases (personal experiences).

As can be seen in the mindmap below, Telkom shall have international IP connection (transit + peering) at least 2 Gbps; Telkomsel at least 1 Gbps (It is for me still a question, whether Telkomsel shares the bandwidth from its parent PT. Telkom ??); Indosat at least 2 Gbps (I found different numbers for year 2006/2007). Somebody will to advise ??

Unity Cable System

Unity is a new multi-terabit transpacific cable system with Google's taste :-D As you can see at this post, I've misunderstood that EAC Pacific would completely be a new transpac cable. It shall actually be a part of the Unity cable. To my knowledge, there are currently three competing parties offering new Asia-US connections:

• Trans-Pacific Express (TPE) : Verizon's Taste :-)
• Asia America Gateway (AAG)
• Unity : PACNET, Google etc.

Any other planned cables ?

Some public information about Unity:

• It connects Los Angeles, US to Chikura, Japan
• Length : approx. 10,000km
• Contractors: NEC Corp. + Tyco Telecommunications; the contract was signed on February 23, 2008.
• Members of Unity consortium : Bharti Airtel, Global Transit, Google, KDDI, Pacnet and SingTel
• CAPEX: approx. USD 300 mn
• RFS: Q1/2010
• Capacity: up to 8 FPs (recently deployed only 5 ?; 2 FP owned by PACNET); 96 Lambdas @ 10 Gbps (design); lit ?

Unity Route Map (Source/Courtesy Unity, NEC corp.)

PT. Power Telecom (PowerTel)

Is there any relation between PowerTel Indonesia and PowerTel New Zealand/Australia ? Honestly I've just heard about this company a few months ago and about last week I was quite surprised when several media quoted the company press release that they are ready to offer services in Jakarta Bandung and that they are in the last stage of the preparation of Java-wide fiber optic infrastructure. Well, "Gut gemacht! Gratuliere!"

Facts and quotes:

• "In 2007 the company signed a contract with government-owned railway company PT Kereta Api to install the network along its railway in a 20-year deal"
  
• "PowerTel plans to go for IPO roadshow to Middle East, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The Indonesia's telecommunication network infrastructure provider has confirmed the support from Middle East investor. There could be more Middle East based investors coming in exceeding the locals"
• "PowerTel aims to deploy the optical fiber backbone along Java island. The 3,400 km - 3 ringed - architecture will be finished by 2009"
• "PT Power Telecom (Powertel) hopes to finish construction of a 3,400-km fiber optic cable system between Jakarta and the East Java capital of Surabaya early next year at the latest"
• Network link in Greater Jakarta and Bandung (500 km; RFS June 2008?) ; Stage two comprises a 833km fibre-optic link connecting Jakarta and Surabaya (RFS September 2008 ? Complete rings RFS Q1/2009 ?)
• "Power Telecom is spending IDR 800 bn (USD 86 mn) in its Java fibre-optic deployment and aims to complete the rollout in September" (2008? maybe for link to Surabaya?); from other sources "The company started building the network, estimated to cost IDR 1.2 trillion (USD 130 mn), earlier this year"
• "The network is expected to be linked with international networks from Jakarta and Surabaya" (Surabaya Hongkong?)
  
• "Once Power Telecom has completed its Java rollout it intends to expand its infrastructure in Sumatra in 2008 and Kalimantan in the next four years"
• "The company has allocated IDR 5 trillion to finance its entire capital expenditures for the next five years"
• "To complement its fibre-optic rollout the company is also setting up Wi-Fi and core IP networks to offer high speed internet access in Jakarta, Solo, Yogyakarta, Semarang and Boyolali"
• Capacity ? (multiple 640 Gbps/FP design capacity?; 48 FPs cable?) Suppliers?
  

Sources: TeleGeography, Swa, Kontan, etc.

PowerTel's Java Backbone (Source/Courtesy PowerTel| powertel.co.id)

Mobile Network Coverage : Telkomsel

As of Q2 2008 PT. Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel/TSEL) operates 23,056 BTSs (including 3G) and serves 52.44 mn subscribers (4% postpaid, 96% prepaid). 4.55 mn of those are new customers this year. As of Q2 2008 TSEL customers spent totally 32.1 bn MoU (Minutes of Use), which is equivalent to 178+ mn MoU each day. It is claimed that the current TSEL network can handle up to 54.8 mn subscribers.

TSEL network coverage as of Q4 2007

PGASKOM (PGAS Telekomunikasi Nusantara)

It is not easy to find information for PGASKOM's backbone. PGASKOM is subsidiary of PGN (Perusahaan Gas Negara) which provides connection services using its fiber optic infrastructure currently installed along its gas pipes spanning from SG/Batam to Southern Sumatera (in the near future to Cilegon Banten and maybe to Jakarta). In an indirect press release several times ago as recorded by local newspapers (detik.com/bisnis?), PGASKOM shall have 96 core / 24 core fiber for terrestrial and submarine segments, respectively. Several cores shall already be leased by (some incumbent) telcos. Anybody knows more ??

Update
I've just found my copy of the more-than-1-year press-record :-)

• 4 fiber cores used for internal purpose; 2 cores are leased by Indosat
• Currently in operation: Grisik (Southern Sumatra) - Batam - Singapore
• (Possibly still) under construction: Grisik - Banjarnegara (Cilegon) via the SSWJ (South Sumatra West Java) pipes
• Telkom and PGN/PGASKOM have signed an MoU several times ago, possibly for using PGN infrastructure

New Asian/Transpacific Submarine Cables

In addition to AAG, several new cable systems in/via Asia are developed (just commissioned or currently under construction). This includes :

• Trans-Pacific Express (US-China)
• FLAG NGN (Intra-Asia, Intra-Africa, Mediterranean, Trans-Pacific)
• IMEWE/TIC (Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, Europe)
• East Asia Crossing (EAC) Extension
  

From a certain point of view EAC transpacific might offer a better network robustness than AAG since it uses two separate routes to connect to the US (something similar to the Apollo cable system for Transatlantic connection). Some other information about the EAC extension:

• Transpacific ring system connecting South East Asia (the Phillipines) directly to the US
• Configuration: Design capacity 2.56Tbps; initial capacity 200Gbps; 4 FPs, DWDM
• RFS: July 2008 ?
  

Courtesy EAC, Taken from George McLaughlin, APAN

National and Regional RENs

Actually since a long time ago I want to write threads about RENs (Research and Education Networks). Why? Simply because they were the origin of the current Internet and they still have a major role in creating advances in networking technologies. This time I would not start with an indonesian case (if INHERENT or Jardiknas can be categorized as a National REN/NREN), but with european cases.

BWiN, GWiN and SurfNET

GWiN Connectivity and Traffic Statistics

Each country in Europe has one or more NRENs. These are connected at a higher level with regional european RENs. Some of you might already heard about TEN-155 or currently GEANT/GEANT2; these are RENs at european level. At country level, Germany for instance has formerly BWiN (Breitband Wissenschaftnetz), GWiN (Gigabit Wissenschaftnetz) and currenly XWiN (X Wissenschaftnetz :-)). Other examples: France has RENATER, Holland has SurfNET, UK has Janet and UKnet?. During my dissertation several years ago, I used intensively these networks to measure, calculate and simulate performance of my approaches and algorithms.

These RENs are active and very dynamic since they are intended to fascilitate research on advance networking technologies and their applications. We may take a look the case of the RE networking (r)evolution in Germany:

First Generation (1989/1990) --> X.25-WiN

• 64 kbps in core; 2.5 - 64 kbps access
• X.25 technology
• 1990 upgraded to 2 Mbps (core and access)

Second Generation (1995-1999) --> BWiN

• 155 Mbps in core; 4.8 kbps - 155 Mbps access
• ATM technology
  

Third Generation (2000-2005) --> GWiN

• 10 Gbps in core; 128 kbps - 10 Gbps access
• PoS technology
  

Fourth Generation (2006-) --> XWiN

• heterogeneous technologies based on recent advances in optical transmission/networking

At a glance, from my point of view, XWiN takes the NLR (National Lambda Rail) model to some extent.

Excelcomindo's Backbone

As of Q4/2006, Excelcomindo has installed and operated more than 2,300 km submarine and more than 5,500 km terrestrial fiber optic cable. This information can be used to check or balance my former calculation (however this was for Q4/2007, since it is based on the information from Kominfo on that time frame). I'm just thinking to derive a progress factor, something like fiber deployment rate each year each operator (km/year), just to have a rough metric for measuring operators' progressivity. Whether somebody out there (in Kominfo or in the operators) is already doing this??

Source/Courtesy: Excelcomindo, Hasnul Suhaimi (Q4/2007)

Source/Courtesy: Excelcomindo, Dian Siswarini (Q4/2007)

Mobile Network Coverage

How many BTSs are needed to completely cover a city on average? 50 ? 100 ? more/less ? If each operator has its own tower, then it would be 250 to 500 towers in a city (assuming there are 5 operators, 1 BTS each tower).

Around two years ago, when I came back from Germany after several years leaving, almost every 1 minute or maybe less of my trip from Jakarta to Bandung (also inside the cities) I saw a BTS tower!! Several times later people told me that indeed due to "cellular wars", our cities have turned into "Hutan BTS" (BTS forrests). Well this is the fact. This might:

• positively influence economic sectors (local cellular-supporting industries, maintenance outsourcing industries, PEMDA's income ? etc.)
• also negatively impact several other things e.g. introducing "optical" polution, destroying city layout (regulation is far slower than business!), injecting more electromagnetic radiations to the home (well, EMR-TTH :-)) etc.
  

I almost forget that the title is about mobile coverage. Below are two pics showing coverage areas of Indosat and Excelcomindo. I don't have that of Telkomsel right now, but intuitively, for TSEL you might see more "reds". Statistical numbers and values will be addressed in special threads, maybe in the next days.

Network Coverage (Indosat Q1/2006)

Network Coverage (Excelcomindo Q4/2006)

Looking at these, it seems that they might use a similar software ? Nokia-based ?

Indosat's Backbone (2)

I've just found another version of Indosat's backbone. For me it looks a bit better than the previous one, though some links might still be not so accurate.

Source/Coutesy: Indosat, Brata T. Hardjosubroto, 2007

Asia America Gateway AAG (2)

One day in 2007 George McLaughlin has mentioned AAG as a possible infrastructure for supporting future Asian networks (APAN - in the context of RENs). It shall at the begin this year a decision whether or not APAN acquires a stake in the consortium. Since the Hengchun's earthquake many people see AAG as a potential infrastructure for increasing network reliability between (South/South-East) Asia and the USA, since it uses different routes than the usual Asia-US submarine cables. AAG also plays an important and strategic role that it can be extended to other countries/continents, thus increasing network reliability at a global scale (see the pic below).

How is the status of AAG currently ? I've found several new things, but not much :-)

• CAPEX : USD 550 mn (update to this post)
• "The Philippine leg of Asia-America Gateway (AAG) cable system landed in the northern province of La Union" (this happened several times ago; PLDT contributes USD 50 mn for this project)
• RFS Q4/2008, commercial traffic early 2009
  

AAG - Map and Possible Extensions

AAG West Portion (REACH)

Cable Crossings at Hongkong Landing Point (South Lantau?)

Palapa Ring (5)

The last non-incumbent member of Palapa Ring consortium, PT. Powertek Utama Internusa has indirectly cancelled its membership (update to this post) . Thus the consortium currently consists of the four-biggest telcos:

• PT. Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom)
• PT. Indosat
• PT. Excelcomindo Pratama
• PT. Bakrie Telecom
  

According to the consortium, Powertek hasn't fulfilled its commitment as stated in the CCMA (Consortium Construction Management Agreement) signed several times ago. The consortium has now to solve / rearrange the investment issue, since it lacks USD 45 mn caused by membership cancellations of Powertek and Infokom.

First Generation Domestic Optical Cable Systems

PT. Indosat has begun to deploy submarine cables since 1985 (optical?). PT. Telkom on the other side has stated that the TIS cable is its first optical submarine cable system.

Recently, according to ASN record, Telkom has already deployed an optical submarine cable system in 90s. Which is true ? Is it only the matter that TIS is international while the other is domestic ?

The records:

• Name : Northern Route Java-Bali
  
• System/family : unrepeatered
• Contractor : ASN
• Length : 55 / 3 km
• Capacity: STM-16 lit / 6 FPs
  
• Service date : 1995

Jakasusi, Jasutra & SKKL-JS

Below are several domestic submarine fiber optic cable systems owned by PT. Indosat.

Jakasusi (JAva KAlimantan SUlaweSI) :

• Jakasusi segment 1 (B1) connects Banyu Urip (Jawa Timur) to Takesung (Kalimantan Selatan)
• Jakasusi segment 2 (B2) connects Takesung (Kalsel) to Aeng Batu Batu (Sulawesi Selatan)
• Length 1,000 km
• CAPEX USD 40 mio.
• Construction period : March 2006 - October 2006
• Contractor : Alcatel (ASN)
• Subcontractors :EGS Asia Ltd (route survey, burial assessment survey - February 2006)
  
• Capacity : ?

Jasutra (JAva SUmaTeRA) :

• CAPEX: USD 6 mio.
• Contractor : Alcatel (ASN)
• System : (shall be) unrepeatered
• Capacity : ?
• Construction period : 2006 ?
  

SKKL-JS (Sistem Komunikasi Kabel Laut - Jakarta Surabaya)

• Familly/system : repeatered
• Contractor : Alcatel (ASN)
• Capacity : 5 Gbps / 1 FP
• Length (km) : 730
• Number of repeaters : 7
• Service date : 1996

Anybody knows JATISEMARAK ?

Highlight XL (Excelcomindo)

In this new "Highlight" thread, I would archieve some actual facts (of my interest) related to indonesian telcos/ISPs.

Currently, XL (Excelcomindo Pratama) is the third largest telco in the country. This is currently justified if we look at the customer base and some financial performances of the company. The current champion is Telkom Group (inc. Telkomsel) while the "vize" champion is Indosat Group. The position might change in the (near) future, especially since XL "moves" quite progressive after TM acquisition and after the former Indosat CEO Hasnul Suhaimi leads this company.

Customer base

• June 2008: 22.9 mn
• July 2008: 24+ mn
• Dec 2008F: 27+ mn

Network

• August 2008: 14,000 BTS; covers 95+% population
• 2008 as of now: 380 mn calls/day; 60 mn SMS/day; capacity 6,500 SMS/s
• fiber optic deployed 2005: submarine 2,320 km, inland 3,520 km
• fiber optic deployed 2006: submarine 2,320 km, inland 5,530 km

From many sources

International IP Bandwidth

Currently I have only some official information specific to Indosat. This was presented by Indosat several times ago (Apricot 2006 Bali ??). However, it belongs to the "biggest" pipes owned by indonesian ISPs.

Indosat's IP Transit Bandwidth:

• Batam - Singapore --> 465 Mbps
• Jakarta - Singapore --> 930 Mbps
• Jakarta - Hongkong --> 775 Mbps
• Jakarta - USA --> 620 Mbps
  

• Total --> +/- 3 Gbps
  

Indosat's International Peering Bandwidth:

• Total --> +/- 500 Mbps