Telkomsel, XLSmart, Indosat Networks Disrupted: 200 BTS Affected by NTT Earthquake

A magnitude 7.7 tectonic earthquake that struck the Flores Island region of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday morning (15/8/2026) has affected the reliability of communication networks in the area. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) recorded that following the main earthquake at 05.58 WITA (04.58 WIB), 200 base transceiver stations (BTS) were identified as experiencing a decline in service quality across 10 regencies and cities in NTT.

“A total of 16.35% of BTS in the affected area experienced disruption. Komdigi continues to monitor network conditions and coordinate directly with mobile operators to ensure recovery can be addressed promptly. The safety of personnel and public access to communication are our top priorities,” said Wayan Toni Supriyanto, Director General of Digital Infrastructure at the Ministry of Komdigi, in a written statement on Saturday (15/8/2026).

Based on dashboard monitoring up to 07.00 WIB, three national mobile operators—Telkomsel, XLSmart, and Indosat—confirmed network problems in several affected areas. The conditions were generally triggered by two main technical issues: the cessation of local electricity supply and transmission line problems caused by the earthquake tremors.

Telkomsel experienced service degradation due to the interruption of local electricity supply. XLSmart encountered problems at several points, particularly in areas close to the earthquake epicentre in Nagekeo. Indosat continued to monitor and inventory disruptions together with its technical team in the field.

Sikka Regency recorded the most significant network impact. Of the 192 existing BTS in the area, 51 sites, or approximately 26.56%, were disrupted. The following is a breakdown of the percentage of BTS currently being handled in 10 regencies and cities in NTT: Sikka Regency with 51 affected BTS (26.56%), Ende Regency with 31 affected BTS (26.27%), East Flores Regency with 26 affected BTS (16.15%), Manggarai Regency with 22 affected BTS (14.67%), East Manggarai Regency with 16 affected BTS (20.00%), West Manggarai Regency with 17 affected BTS (12.06%), Ngada Regency with 13 affected BTS (12.87%), Nagekeo Regency with 11 affected BTS (15.07%), Lembata Regency with 10 affected BTS (13.70%), and North Central Timor Regency with 3 affected BTS (2.24%).

Wayan explained that the Komdigi Telecommunications Monitoring Team, together with the Radio Frequency Spectrum Monitoring Centre, local governments, and operators, continues to monitor signal recovery periodically. “Network conditions are highly dynamic following a disaster. Therefore, we continue to update the data based on reports from operators in the field. Once technical and safety conditions allow, handling will be carried out immediately at sites experiencing problems,” Wayan added.

The Ministry of Komdigi also urged residents in affected locations to prioritise personal safety, conserve the battery power of communication devices, and monitor developments through official government information channels.