SHAH ALAM – Singapore could face major internet disruptions if undersea cables linking it to Indonesia were severed, Indonesian Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid has warned, highlighting the two countries’ reliance on shared digital infrastructure.
Meutya said many undersea cable routes connecting Singapore to the wider region passed through Indonesian waters, meaning damage to the cables could affect connectivity in both countries.
“We do not need to be angry. The undersea cables that land in Singapore did not appear out of nowhere. Most of their routes pass through Indonesian waters.
“If they are severed or deliberately cut, 80 per cent of Singapore’s internet connectivity capacity could also be disrupted,” she said in an Instagram post on Tuesday.
Her remarks followed comments by former Singaporean Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng, who had highlighted Indonesia’s reliance on Singapore for international internet connectivity.
On Sunday, Cheng shared an infographic on X titled “Indonesia’s Internet Dependence on Singapore”, claiming that about 90 per cent of Indonesia’s international internet traffic passed through the city-state.
The infographic portrayed Singapore as a key gateway for Indonesia’s access to global internet services through data centres, cloud computing and undersea cables. Cheng later added the brief question, “Cut?” to the post.
However, he subsequently clarified that Singapore would not deliberately sever the cables.
“We are a civilised, law-abiding society. Of course, we would not do that,” he said.
Meutya also highlighted Indonesia’s importance as a digital market for global technology companies operating in Singapore.
She said Indonesia had a population 47 times larger than Singapore’s, with about 267 million people having access to the internet.
“Without these figures, investors from global technology companies could potentially leave Singapore,” she said.
She added that digital infrastructure should be protected as a shared interest, warning that disruptions could affect not only Indonesia and Singapore but also global connectivity.
“We must not think narrowly. Digital infrastructure is a sector that must be safeguarded collectively, not only for the benefit of both countries but also for global connectivity,” she said.
The exchange comes amid heightened attention on economic ties between the two neighbours following Jakarta’s decision to reduce natural gas exports to Singapore to prioritise domestic needs.