Inp.polri.go.id - Manado.Volcanic activity near Sitaro Islands, North Sulawesi, has damaged the undersea cable network of Indonesia’s “Palapa Ring Central,” disrupting part of the national digital backbone, officials said Wednesday (12/11/2025).

“One of the causes was underwater volcanic activity in Sitaro Regency, which led to the cable break,” said Mannuelson Jaka Jusuf, the Head of the Manado Radio Frequency Spectrum Monitoring Center at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, as cited by antaranews.com.

The damaged section previously connected Sitaro to the Sangihe and Talaud Islands but now relies solely on the Tobelo route in North Maluku. A new route from Bitung to Sangihe is being considered to avoid further volcanic risks.

The ministry is gathering local input to ensure the revitalization of Palapa Ring Central aligns with regional needs. Mannuelson said that a strong digital backbone is crucial to maintaining Indonesia’s northernmost digital connectivity and national resilience.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)