Jakarta Clears 1,161-Meter Stretch of Aerial Cables in Menteng
Reported by Aldi Geri Lumban Tobing | Translated by Nugroho Adibrata
Over 1,161 meters of aerial cables along Jalan Proklamasi and Jalan Penataran in Menteng, Central Jakarta were cleared on Monday (9/28).
Hope this cable cleanup will help accelerate Jakarta's global city ranking
This follows the previous 2.5-kilometer cable relocation on Jalan Tambak to support LRT Jakarta construction.
Jakarta Governor's Special Staff for Development and Urban Planning, Nirwono Yoga, stated that the aerial cable cleanup follows the Governor's directive ahead of Jakarta's 500th anniversary.
Aerial Cables on Jalan Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono IX RemovedThe 5-year project involves moving utility networks underground in stages and cutting inactive cables.
“The five main reasons are safety, pedestrian comfort, aesthetics, traffic flow, and boosting Jakarta as a global city. We're ordered to take down all aerial cables in Jakarta within five years," he expressed.
He noted that the Jakarta government is using the '5M' movement—utilizing the Integrated Utility Network Facility (SJUT), independent relocation, binding, cutting, and lowering cables—to achieve the target.
Nirwono added that the project aims to boost Jakarta's global city index ranking.
"Hope this cable cleanup will help accelerate Jakarta's global city ranking from 71 to 50 by 2029," he hoped.
Jakarta Utility Infrastructure and Facilities Head Imam Adi Nugraha explained that underground cables were installed first with utility operators.
Unused aerial cables are then cut and dysfunctional poles removed, targeting completion within two weeks.
"In the first week we clear the cables, and the next week we remove the dysfunctional poles," he asserted.
Telecommunication Network Providers Association (APJATEL) Greater Jakarta Coordinator Anton F Belnis stated that about 72 operators own cable networks in Jakarta. On Jalan Proklamasi and Jalan Penataran, 22 operators have relocated their networks per the Jakarta government's program.
Anton stated that APJATEL has been moving cables underground since 2021 at an average of 80–90 kilometers per year. The 2026 program targets about 60 kilometers across all five administrative areas of Jakarta.
“We fully support the government's program, and this will continue," he added.
Along with main roads, APJATEL and the Jakarta Highways Agency are targeting 12 road segments in Central and South Jakarta for cable cleanup. Inactive cables will be marked and cut, while active ones remain.
"Around 50 to 60 percent of the cables along these routes are inactive," he stated.
