Indonesia and Global Cyber Norms

From this year until 2021, Indonesia is one of 25 countries to sit in the UNGGE on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (UNGGE).

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

President Joko Widodo (center left, background) delivers his keynote speech at the inauguration of the Palapa Ring fiber optic network on Monday (14/10/2019) at the State Palace in Jakarta. The Palapa Ring’s West-Central-East backbone reaches 90 regencies and cities, with 57 servers and 33 interconnections. The network of land-based and submarine fiber optic cables spans 12,148 kilometers, with 59 microwave hops, and is expected to provide equitable and quality Internet access in all regions in Indonesia.

Early December 2019 is a busy time for Indonesia’s cyber diplomacy. From this year until 2021, Indonesia is one of 25 countries to sit in the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (UNGGE).

The first UNGGE meeting took place from Dec. 9-13, preceded by an informal meeting a few days earlier. Indonesia was represented by diplomats from the Directorate General of International Security and Disarmament at the Foreign Ministry. They negotiated how the arrangement of the cyber sphere began to be armed.