Primacom taps Transcelestial laser technology to add a 10 Gbps Jakarta backbone link in under a day, sidestepping fibre trenching delays. Primacom taps Transcelestial laser technology to add a 10 Gbps Jakarta backbone link in under a day, sidestepping fibre trenching delays. Read More DataCenterNews Asia Pacific
Primacom has deployed a wireless laser link from Transcelestial in Jakarta to establish a 10 Gbps backbone connection. The link was brought online in less than a day.
The installation took place in a restricted commercial area near Primacom's data centre, where fibre trenching was not possible and radio-based wireless had proved inadequate. The link covered less than 1 km and was integrated into Primacom's existing network.
Jakarta's dense urban environment has made fixed-line network expansion difficult for telecoms providers. Permits can be complex, deployment timelines can stretch for months, and the cost of laying underground fibre can rise sharply in heavily built-up districts.
This has created an opening for alternatives that avoid digging. Transcelestial's CENTAURI system uses laser light to transmit data through the air between sites with a direct line of sight, allowing operators to connect buildings or network nodes without laying new cable.
Over a 30-day run, the Jakarta link delivered 99.99% uptime, zero packet loss, and round-trip latency of less than 1 millisecond, according to the companies. Primacom added that the system sustained 10 Gbps throughput, including during periods of heavy rainfall.
The trial also recorded low jitter and latency of less than 50 microseconds, based on performance data released by the companies. Remote alignment and power adjustment meant no on-site remedial work was needed during the test period.
Urban constraints
Primacom had been seeking a high-capacity, low-latency connection for an area where access restrictions ruled out conventional fibre deployment. In such locations, operators often have to weigh long lead times for civil works against the performance limitations of other wireless options.
The project was positioned as a way to extend backbone connectivity in districts where paperwork and site access can slow network roll-outs. For providers serving enterprise customers and data-centre sites, delays in securing permits can hold up service activation and expansion plans.
According to Transcelestial, the Jakarta deployment followed a site evaluation to verify line of sight between the locations, then installation and RFC 2544 testing before live traffic was carried over the link. The system then ran in service for 30 days.
Partner comments
Andy Liminata, Assistant Vice President of Product Development at Primacom, commented on the relationship between the two companies.
"Transcelestial has become a strategic partner for Primacom in delivering high-quality services to our customers. Through its advanced technology, Transcelestial helps us reach wider areas more efficiently. In addition, the coordination from the Transcelestial team has been very professional and responsive," said Andy Liminata, Assistant Vice President of Product Development at Primacom.
The project is one example of how operators in large Southeast Asian cities are testing non-fibre approaches for dense commercial districts, campus networks, and data-centre interconnects. In markets where rights of way are constrained, optical wireless systems can bridge short gaps in metropolitan networks.
Microwave links have long been used for backhaul, but providers often face trade-offs in bandwidth, interference, and spectrum. Laser-based systems are being pitched as a way to deliver higher data rates over short distances, provided sites have stable line of sight and suitable placement conditions.
For Primacom, the Jakarta result could provide a model for connecting other hard-to-reach sites in the city. The deployment also provides a basis for planning similar backbone links in other high-demand areas.
Dinesh Kummaran of Transcelestial framed the issue in terms of the time needed to complete conventional civil works in dense urban markets.
"In cities like Jakarta, every kilometer of fiber trenching can take months of paperwork. It should not take quarters to remove that friction. Lasers can connect the hardest sites in days," said Kummaran.