The Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) is working to provide satellite-based telecommunications equipment to open internet access in areas isolated by flooding in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital, Nezar Patria, stated that the Ministry of Communication and Digital is working to expand the reach of emergency internet access services by providing telecommunications facilities in isolated areas.
"We're trying to restore telecommunications access first. Without telecommunications, we can't know the situation of residents in the areas most severely affected by the floods," Nezar said, as quoted in a ministry press release in Jakarta on Thursday.
According to data from the Ministry of Communication and Digital, as of Wednesday (10/12) as many as 2,287 BTS or 66.99 percent of the total 3,414 BTS in the Aceh Province area were still experiencing disruptions.
As of Tuesday (9/12), the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has provided 18 emergency internet access points using the Satria 1 satellite connection and distributed 88 Starlink devices to disaster-affected areas in Aceh Province (27 units), North Sumatra (27 units), and West Sumatra (34 units).
"Later, we'll try to expand the Starlink network to areas that haven't been reached yet. If there are areas where the network is already normal, perhaps Starlink can be shifted to other areas first," said Nezar.
Starlink devices are distributed to local governments, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Regional Disaster Management Agencies (DPRD), and disaster response organizations and volunteers to be installed in strategic locations such as government offices, volunteer and aid posts, isolated residents' locations, and community activity points.
