Tangerang Selatan Cracks Down on Illegal Fiber Optic Cables

The city government of Tangerang Selatan is intensifying its crackdown on illegally installed fiber optic cables and poles, citing their negative impact on the city's appearance and public safety. Deputy Mayor Pilar Saga Ichsan emphasized that these unauthorized installations are not only an eyesore but also a potential hazard to road users.

"These are fiber optic cables without permits, and they are very disruptive to the city's aesthetics and safety. Because in the road spaces that have entered the arrangement program, everything should be underground. Now, there are several more cables being installed illegally," Ichsan stated during an inspection of the cable removal operation.

The operation focused on four locations: Jalan Merpati, Jalan Cendrawasih Raya, Jalan Menjangan Raya, and Bukit Cireundeu. Ichsan noted that many fiber optic cables were still being installed without following regulations, even on streets designated for underground network development. Tangerang Selatan has been working with the Association of Telecommunication Network Providers (APJATEL) for two years to relocate aerial cables underground, with nine locations already completed and ten more currently in progress.

Despite these ongoing efforts, the city government continues to discover new cables being secretly installed. Ichsan warned that such violations would not be tolerated. "So after we carry out the crackdown, we check the reports from the regions again, it turns out many are installing illegally, secretly. One by one they are installed, then we crack down again. All of these will be confiscated, there will be no compensation because this has violated the rules," he asserted.

Some of the identified cables are suspected to belong to telecommunication providers like Telkomsel and Biznet. However, Ichsan pointed out that installations are often carried out by third-party contractors working for these providers. He urged telecommunication companies to ensure their networks comply with regulations and to supervise their contractors diligently.