KBRN, Padang: The central government restored emergency communications in West Sumatra. Ministry of Communication and Digital deployed satellite internet units and repaired damaged base transceiver stations (BTS).
Field personnel reconnected disrupted communication lines across affected areas. Ministry of Communication and Digital delivered 32 Starlink units to flood- and landslide-hit zones.
The ministry's Head of Class II Padang Monitoring Center, Helmi conveyed the internet service is free. "This is free of charge," affirmed Helmi during a press conference on WeWednesday (12/3/2025).
Besides the Starlink devices, the Monitoring Center also operated repeaters at the top of Mount Singgalang that can reach 9 to 10 regencies and cities in West Sumatra. The repeater can be used for radio communication and has been used by local disaster mitigation agency and community radio stastations.
As quoted by BNPB website, some 154 BTS were disrupted out of 3,739 units. Most issues stemmed from power outages and transmission breaks.
Generators now support BTS with power disruptions. One BTS was physically damaged after being swept away by floods.
A disaster repeater operates on Mount Singgalang. It reaches up to ten districts and cities in West Sumatra.
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