Jakarta (ANTARA) - Nearly all digital telecommunications infrastructure disrupted by the powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has been restored to full operation, Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid confirmed on Wednesday.

Meutya announced that 99.9 percent of the affected Base Transceiver Station (BTS) towers across the province are back online, reconnecting local communities and supporting ongoing emergency relief operations.

The restoration effort follows a major earthquake that struck off Flores Island early Saturday morning (August 15), triggering widespread infrastructure damage across 11 regencies and cities. According to ministry data, 812 cellular sites were knocked out of service by the quake.

"As of 6:00 PM Western Indonesia Time on August 18, 99.9 percent of the BTS sites affected by the NTT earthquake have been successfully recovered," Meutya stated in Jakarta.

She noted that full connectivity has been restored across eight affected districts, with only a single tower in Manggarai District remaining under active repair.

The swift recovery of the region’s communication network forms part of a broader emergency response ordered by President Prabowo Subianto and coordinated through the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture.

Ministries and state agencies were mobilized immediately following the disaster to restore critical utilities and deliver humanitarian aid.

Meutya expressed hopes that the affected communities will recover swiftly and return to their daily routines while encouraging nationwide solidarity to assist victims.

"Let us all help in whatever ways we can to ease the burden on our brothers and sisters affected by the NTT earthquake," she concluded.