Emergency internet access in Sumatra deployed through SATRIA-1 to restore communication in isolated flood-hit communities.
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| Charging blocks for mobile phones are placed in a shelter as displaced residents rest following flash floods and landslides in Pandan, Central Tapanuli, North Sumatra, on November 30, 2025. Photo by YT Hariono/AFP/Getty Images |
The Indonesian government has expanded emergency internet access in Sumatra as catastrophic floods and landslides continue to isolate communities across three provinces. The initiative, which utilizes the SATRIA-1 satellite, aims to restore disrupted communication networks in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, where residents have been struggling to contact their families since the disaster first struck. The deployment of emergency internet access in Sumatra has become a crucial part of the broader national response, allowing survivors, volunteers, and authorities to reestablish essential lines of communication during a period of widespread uncertainty.
Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said on Sunday that restoring connectivity through satellite services is now one of the government’s highest priorities. She emphasized that the severe damage to communication infrastructure has left many communities unable to send distress reports, coordinate evacuations, or receive verified updates from authorities. Hafid described SATRIA-1 as a critical tool in responding to this type of large-scale disaster, especially when terrestrial networks are wiped out by floods and landslides.
She stated that SATRIA-1, which has been operational since last year, was originally designed to serve remote, underdeveloped, frontier, and outermost regions. However, its ability to operate independently of ground-based networks has proven vital during major emergencies. According to her, the satellite can immediately provide high-speed connectivity to disaster areas where cables, fiber-optic lines, and base transceiver stations have been destroyed or remain underwater. This capability has made emergency internet access in Sumatra one of the most important interventions since the disaster began.
Hafid called on residents in the affected provinces to use the satellite-based connection responsibly, particularly to access official information from the government. She also urged the public to remain cautious, follow evacuation instructions, and avoid circulating unverified information that could complicate emergency operations or create confusion among displaced families.
To accelerate the installation process, the ministry’s Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency, known as BAKTI, has been working closely with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, the Indonesian National Armed Forces, and search and rescue teams. On Sunday, the agencies jointly transported equipment to various designated locations where emergency internet units would be activated. Many of the selected spots were identified as high-priority areas where communication had been completely severed for days, affecting both civilians and emergency responders.
Among the ten installation points, two significant locations include Dr. Fredric Lumban Tobing Airport in Central Tapanuli District, North Sumatra, and the Aceh Command Center in Central Aceh. Both locations serve as logistics hubs and coordination centers for search operations, evacuation planning, and distribution of emergency supplies. Restoring connectivity in these locations is expected to strengthen overall disaster coordination and improve access to verified updates for affected communities. As emergency internet access in Sumatra becomes operational at more sites, authorities believe the flow of information will improve considerably, enabling faster decision-making across multiple disaster response teams.
The scale of the disaster has continued to grow, with flash floods and landslides ravaging large parts of Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra following days of intense rainfall. Bridges, main roads, and communication facilities have been severely damaged, creating logistical bottlenecks that hinder rescue efforts. The restoration of internet access through SATRIA-1 has therefore become a key lifeline, allowing families to report missing relatives, seek assistance, and monitor evacuation updates.
Data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency as of November 30 at 06:00 p.m. showed that the death toll had reached 442 people. An additional 402 individuals were still missing. These figures are expected to rise as more areas regain connectivity and have the ability to send updated reports to provincial disaster posts. The widespread loss of communication has prevented authorities from confirming the full extent of casualties in more remote districts, many of which remain difficult to reach due to landslides blocking access routes.
The floods have also displaced tens of thousands of families, with many seeking shelter in schools, government buildings, and community halls that have been converted into temporary evacuation sites. Local authorities say the number of displaced residents continues to climb as heavy rain persists, causing the risk of new landslides and forcing more villages to evacuate. Satellite-based internet systems have been installed near several major shelters to assist evacuees in contacting their families and coordinating support from volunteer groups.
Officials reported that the restored connectivity has allowed emergency posts to send real-time updates on supply shortages, medical needs, and environmental conditions. This has helped humanitarian agencies allocate resources more efficiently, particularly in areas that have been cut off by rivers overflowing their banks or where roads have collapsed due to soil erosion. Emergency internet access in Sumatra is thus playing an essential role in preventing communication breakdowns that could delay life-saving assistance.
Government teams on the ground say that many communities were unable to communicate with the outside world for several days, creating anxiety among survivors who had no way to confirm the safety of missing relatives. As SATRIA-1 units gradually come online, emotionally charged reunions have taken place, with residents finally able to make calls and send messages that had been impossible since the first wave of flooding. For many, the return of connectivity has offered a sense of relief amid destruction that has uprooted entire neighborhoods.
Rescue operations remain challenging, with weather conditions fluctuating and emergency teams facing difficulties accessing remote areas. Authorities continue to warn that weather patterns may worsen, increasing the likelihood of more floods. The availability of emergency internet access in Sumatra provides a communication backbone for responders as they work under unpredictable conditions, using real-time information to determine which areas need urgent support.
In addition to civilian use, SATRIA-1 connectivity has supported military and disaster agencies coordinating air and land operations. Helicopters delivering food, water, and medical supplies are relying on updated weather information transmitted through the satellite network. Ground teams attempting to open blocked roads also depend on consistent communication with headquarters to ensure the safe movement of heavy equipment. These tasks, previously hindered by network outages, have become more manageable as internet access is restored.
As more satellite terminals are deployed, the government expects communication to fully recover in several districts within the week. BAKTI continues evaluating additional locations that may require immediate access, especially areas where evacuation centers are overcrowded or where emergency medical services are struggling to communicate with hospitals in neighboring districts. The expansion of emergency internet access in Sumatra is seen as part of a broader effort to stabilize the situation while search operations intensify.
