"Our focus is now on Aceh. For North Sumatra, we have reached 98 percent, and it is even better in West Sumatra, reaching 99 percent," she said here on Thursday.
She explained that currently, only about 40 percent of the Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) in Aceh are operational, adding that the BTS network could be restored to 75 percent if the electricity supply returns to normal.
"Earlier, I spoke with Telkomsel (Indonesian telecommunication company) and others; they are still waiting for the availability of electricity. So we cannot set a target for it," she said.
She added that none of the BTS infrastructure in the disaster-affected areas suffered severe damage or collapsed. Disruptions to the BTS are solely on the transmission side due to damage to the fiber-optic cables.
In late November 2025, floods and landslides struck Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, following high-intensity rainfall, affecting various infrastructure, including telecommunication.
In response, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is providing satellite-based telecommunication equipment to open internet access in areas isolated by the floods.
Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Nezar Patria, stated that his ministry is working to expand the reach of emergency internet access services by providing telecommunication facilities in areas that remain cut off.
According to the ministry's data, as of Wednesday (December 10), 2,287 of the 3,414 total BTS in Aceh Province were still experiencing disruptions.
As of Tuesday (December 9), the ministry had provided 18 emergency internet access points using the SATRIA-1 satellite connection and distributed 88 Starlink devices to disaster-affected areas across the three provinces: Aceh (27 units), North Sumatra (27 units), and West Sumatra (34 units).
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Translator: Farhan Arda, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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