Government Deploys Satellite Internet To Accelerate Sumatra Recovery

JAKARTA - The government has deployed satellite internet and logistics assistance to accelerate the response to the post-disaster situation recovery that has hit West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh.

Special Staff to the Vice President Achmad Adhitya said satellite-based communication services facilitated rapid and effective coordination of emergency posts, field officers, and related agencies.

"The government provides support in the form of satellite-based internet telecommunications equipment distributed to 13 districts in West Sumatra, North Sumatra, and Aceh," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, December 11.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) reported that 413 of the 602 SATRIA-1 satellite internet terminals in areas affected by the Sumatra floods had recovered until December 6, 2025.

West Sumatra recorded the highest recovery (42 out of 49 points), followed by North Sumatra (161 out of 205 points) and Aceh (210 out of 348 points).

As of December 7, 2025, there are 30,017 locations throughout Indonesia that have been connected to UT SATRIA-1, the majority of schools and public service facilities.

SATRIA-1 as the largest capacity satellite in Asia was supported by 11 international gateways and noted that the Service Level Agreement (SLA) was more than 99.5 percent.

Adhitya said the presence of this telecommunications device was very crucial considering the large number of areas experiencing network disruptions due to damage to infrastructure and cut access.

"This support also allows people in affected areas to stay connected to their families and obtain important information regarding disaster management," he said.

Another urgent thing that also concerns the government, said Adhitya, is the distribution of logistical assistance to three districts in each province affected.

The assistance includes drinking water, staple food, ready-to-eat food, baby nutritional products, to other important needs needed during the emergency response period.

This step, according to him, is the main support so that the basic needs of the residents are still met while waiting for infrastructure recovery to take place gradually.