PNG DataCo Reports Kumul Cable Fault and Repairs

John Tanner, Developing Telecoms
September 28, 2026

PNG DataCo is preparing to repair a fault on the Kumul Domestic Submarine Cable System branch serving Vanimo, according to a September 28 report by John Tanner in Developing Telecoms. The state-owned Papua New Guinea network wholesaler detected the fault on August 25. It affected point-to-point services, IEPL services and wholesale internet services in Sandaun Province. The company set October 23 as its target for bringing Vanimo's subsea connectivity services back; it has not reported the repair complete.

The Kumul branch fault is one of several separate disruptions PNG DataCo reported during the preceding month. Its effect on both dedicated connections and wholesale internet services makes the Vanimo restoration target relevant to multiple service types in Sandaun Province. For now, the confirmed status is repair preparation, not a return to normal subsea service on that branch. The October 23 date is a company target rather than confirmation that connectivity has already been restored.

In a separate incident beginning September 19, commercial power problems affected the Gerehu Earth Station, a nearby data center, and cable landing stations at Kerema and Daru. PNG DataCo attributed the problem to abnormal phase rotation following PNG Power maintenance. Power at Gerehu was restored September 21, while services at Kerema and Daru were restored September 23. Those restorations concern the power-related disruption, not the outstanding Kumul branch repair.

Also on September 19, vandalism damaged a terrestrial fiber cable on the Madang–Yonki corridor, disrupting services in Lae, Yonki and the Highlands Region. The cable was repaired and services were restored September 21, according to the report. This was a land-based cable incident distinct from both the Vanimo-serving subsea fault and the power problems at PNG DataCo facilities.

The Developing Telecoms report also identified a separate break on the Australia–Singapore Cable between Indonesia and Singapore. Although that cable does not directly connect to Papua New Guinea, the break contributed to degraded performance, latency and intermittent access for some Asia-hosted services. The report said Vocus rerouted Australia–Singapore Cable traffic over alternative paths pending repair. Taken together, the reported incidents affected different infrastructure and services; among them, the Kumul branch fault remains the one with repair preparations underway and an October 23 restoration target.

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