Former Singapore Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng recently floated the idea of cutting undersea fibre-optic cables on social media. Responding to the post, Indonesian Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid warned that Singapore relies heavily on these connections and could face internet outages and a loss of investment if the cables were severed.
The Jakarta Globe reported that Cheng posted an infographic on X late last Sunday (25 October) showing that 90% of Indonesia’s international internet traffic passes through Singapore. His brief comment, “Cut?”, sparked speculation among social media users over whether he was suggesting cutting undersea fibre-optic cables.
Although he clarified an hour later that Singapore would “obviously” not pursue the plan, the post drew attention.
Responding on Tuesday (27 October), Meutya Hafid urged Indonesians not to panic, noting that most undersea cable routes connecting Singapore pass through Indonesian waters. Singapore would also be significantly affected if the connections were cut.
She said Indonesia had as many as 267 million internet users, highlighting its appeal as a digital market. “Without such a large user base, global technology investors could withdraw from Singapore.”
Meutya Hafid also said digital infrastructure must be jointly maintained, not only in the interests of both countries but also to ensure uninterrupted global connectivity.
