Komdigi Adds Satellite Capacity to Maintain Connectivity in Sangihe-Sitaro

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Digital through the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) has increased the bandwidth capacity of the Indonesian Republic Satellite (Satria) network to reach 50 to 150 Mbps at 154 points.

This step is intended to maintain the telecommunications and internet services of the people in the Sangihe Islands Regency and the Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands Regency (Sitaro), North Sulawesi, while the restoration process of the Tahuna-Melonguane segment of the Palapa Ring undersea cable is underway.

In this way, Komdigi hopes that communication services, government services, education, health, and people's economic activities in border areas will remain connected.

Director of Digital Infrastructure Control of the Ministry of Komdigi, Indra Maulana, said the government continues to prioritize the continuity of services for the community while overseeing the ongoing restoration process of infrastructure.

"All operational maneuvers and use of underwater equipment must be carried out very carefully. We must be careful to maintain the security and reliability of existing telecommunications infrastructure around the work area," said Indra on Wednesday, June 3.

Meanwhile, Acting Director of Infrastructure BAKTI Darien Aldiano said that the entire team continued to work hard to accelerate the network recovery process.

"We apologize for this schedule adjustment. Despite facing weather challenges and extreme seafloor characteristics, all technical teams are still trying their best. Work continues to be carried out by prioritizing the safety and reliability of the network so that services can return to normal as soon as possible," said Darien.

The restoration work faced a number of technical challenges in the field.

In addition to the dynamic sea weather conditions, the work area is also located near the active sea cable corridor of the Ondong Siau-Tahuna segment so that the entire process must be carried out with a high level of precision.

The technical team also faced seafloor conditions dominated by rocks with steep contours. This situation makes the process of identifying and handling cables require more caution to maintain the safety of the work while ensuring the quality of the restoration results.

Considering these operational conditions, the target for completing the work and the Ready For Service (RFS) schedule, which was originally planned for the period from May 28 to June 2, 2026, is projected to be adjusted to June 6, 2026.

Kemkomdigi also continues to coordinate with mobile operators to ensure connectivity at public service points and vital objects in the region is maintained.