Komdigi: Three Mobile Operators Affected by M 7.0 Earthquake in NTT
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) has confirmed that monitoring and restoration of telecommunications networks are continuing with mobile operators following a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck the Flores Island region of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday (15/8/2026). Director General of Digital Infrastructure at Komdigi, Wayan Toni Supriyanto, said the earthquake occurred at 05.58 WITA (04.58 WIB) with its epicentre northeast of Mbay, Nagekeo Regency.
Based on monitoring by telecommunications operators through the dashboard up to 07.00 WIB, Wayan said 200 sites or BTS were identified as experiencing disruptions spread across 10 districts and cities in NTT. Wayan stated that 16.35 percent of BTS in the affected areas were experiencing disruptions.
“Komdigi continues to monitor network conditions and coordinate directly with mobile operators to ensure disruptions can be addressed promptly,” Wayan said in a written statement in Jakarta on Saturday (15/8/2026).
Wayan emphasised that the safety of personnel and public access to telecommunications are the primary considerations in the inspection and recovery process on the ground. From the interim monitoring results, three mobile operators—Telkomsel, XLsmart, and Indosat—have been confirmed to have experienced network impacts in several areas.
On the Telkomsel network, he said, a number of BTS experienced disruptions due to power supply failures in the affected areas. Wayan said XLsmart also reported service disruptions, especially in areas close to the earthquake epicentre, while Indosat is still conducting intensive monitoring through its technical team.
“In addition to power supply disruptions, coordination with telecommunications operators indicates disruptions to the transmission network as a result of the earthquake,” Wayan revealed.
In terms of numbers, Wayan said the most affected sites/BTS were in Sikka Regency with 51 sites/BTS, followed by Ende Regency with 31 sites/BTS and East Flores Regency with 26 sites/BTS. As of 07.00, he said, 200 sites were affected by the earthquake disaster and are in the process of recovery.
Wayan said Komdigi’s Telecommunications Monitoring Team (PMT) continues to update network conditions through the monitoring dashboard. Monitoring is also carried out together with the Radio Frequency Spectrum Monitoring Centre (Balmon SFR), local governments, and telecommunications providers.
“Network conditions are very dynamic after a disaster. Therefore, we continue to update the data based on operator reports and field monitoring results. Once conditions allow, technical handling will be carried out on the affected sites,” Wayan said.
The Ministry of Komdigi urged residents in the affected areas to prioritise safety and follow official information and instructions from BMKG, local governments, and disaster management agencies. Wayan said developments in network conditions and the telecommunications service recovery process will continue to be monitored regularly and updated according to the situation on the ground.