495 Site Of Telecommunication Services In North Sumatra Disrupted By Floods And Landslides

Illustration of BTS (photo: Freepik)

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs reported a possible disruption to telecommunications services due to floods and landslides that occurred in Central Tapanuli Regency, South Tapanuli Regency, and Sibolga City, North Sumatra, on Wednesday, November 26.

In this case, the Telecommunication Monitoring Center (PMT) has coordinated with cellular operators including PT Telekomunikasi Selular, PT Indosat Tbk and PT XLSmart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk., to map out potential network disruptions in affected areas.

Based on PMT data, a total of 495 sites, or about 1.42% of the 34,660 existing sites in North Sumatra, were disrupted. The largest disturbance was recorded in Central Tapanuli Regency with 167 affected sites (23.19%), Sibolga City with 35 sites (26.52%), and several areas of the Nias archipelago.

Meanwhile, PT XL Smart Telecom Sejahtera Tbk reported 80 affected sites (0.19% of the total 8,746 sites in North Sumatra), with significant disturbances mainly in Pandan, Manduamas, Barus, and several sub-districts in Sibolga.

PT Indosat Tbk reported 79 affected sites (0.77% of 10,174 sites), mainly in Pandan, Siringok, Madiri, Barus, and several areas in Tapanuli and Sibolga. Persentase of disruption varies between 6 35% at the sub-district level.

Meanwhile, PT Telekomunikasi Selular recorded the largest impact with 336 affected sites, widespread in the Nias, Tapanuli, and parts of Medan City. Several sub-districts reported disturbances above 20% of the total existing sites, such as Gunungsitoli, Teluk Dalam, Maniamolo, and Tukka.

Site who was affected and experienced a breakdown (down) was caused by the cut off of electricity from PLN and transmission disruptions.

Currently, all cellular operators are working to restore sites affected by the cut off of electricity from PLN using generators, until the electricity returns to normal. However, it is still hampered by road access affected by flooding.

Mobile operators have also been working to restore down sites due to transmission disruptions by routing to several points.

Komdigi through the Directorate of Digital Infrastructure Control also continues to monitor the quality of telecommunications services after floods and landslides, together with the Medan Class I SFR Monitoring Center and the Regional Government.