Indosat offers relief connectivity after Flores earthquake
Indosat says it is delivering a 3 GB data, calls and SMS package plus basic supplies to communities in Flores affected by the 15 August 2026 earthquake and tsunami, while working to restore sites across East Nusa Tenggara.
By Mukmin John
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· Event date: · 4 min read
Labuan Bajo — Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison is offering a relief connectivity package of 3 GB of data, 100 minutes of calls and 100 SMS to residents in Flores affected by the 15 August earthquake and tsunami, alongside deliveries of basic supplies in Nagekeo and Sikka regencies, according to a local media report published on 3 September 2026.
The support is part of Indosat’s SIGAP emergency-response programme, which the company says combines telecommunications access with food, health and sanitation items and sleeping equipment for communities in the disaster area. The assistance was delivered at least in Mbay, in Nagekeo Regency, and Maumere, in Sikka Regency, according to the same report.
What Indosat says it is providing
According to the 3 September report, Indosat is providing communications support in Flores through its IM3 and Tri brands.
- 3 GB of internet data
- 100 minutes of calls
- 100 SMS messages to all operators
The report does not specify whether the benefits are automatically applied or require registration, or how long they remain active for each user.
It also does not detail eligibility rules or whether the offer applies to all customers in the affected areas or only to selected numbers, leaving the scope and duration of the connectivity support unclear.
Indosat Director and Chief Operating Officer Syed Bilal Kazmi was quoted as saying the company is coordinating with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and other stakeholders to meet urgent needs while maintaining communications for residents and responders.
Impact of the August 15 quake on Indosat’s network
Indosat stated that around 40 percent of its transmitters in Flores were affected by widespread power outages after the 15 August 2026 earthquake.
To speed up recovery, the company said it set up 24-hour network monitoring through a command centre and deployed technical teams near affected sites.
Indosat also cited the use of operational vehicles, fuel supplies, additional generators brought from outside Flores and backup batteries for base transceiver stations to support service continuity during the emergency period.
According to the same report, Indosat said that by 17 August 2026, 643 sites it operates in East Nusa Tenggara were functioning fully to support communications needs in the disaster-affected province.
The figure is a province-wide total and does not include a breakdown by district, so it does not confirm that every site serving Nagekeo, Sikka and other heavily affected districts was restored at that date.
Earthquake and tsunami context in Flores
The relief and restoration measures follow a magnitude 7.7 earthquake that struck Flores on 15 August 2026 at 04:58 WIB, with an epicentre in the Flores Sea about 30 kilometres northeast of Nagekeo at a depth of 15 kilometres, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
BMKG issued a tsunami early warning for parts of East Nusa Tenggara, West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi and confirmed tsunami waves under one metre along sections of the coast, before lifting the warning at 07:30 WIB on the same day.
BMKG’s field surveys and intensity mapping found maximum shaking of VII on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale in parts of West Manggarai, Manggarai, East Manggarai, Nagekeo and Sikka, with liquefaction phenomena recorded in Aesesa District in Nagekeo and significant inundation at several coastal sites.
Subsequent BMKG updates and media reports have documented thousands of aftershocks in Flores and continuing seismic activity near Nagekeo, underscoring the ongoing vulnerability of local infrastructure.
Remaining information gaps for residents and visitors
Indosat’s public statements so far do not clarify key practical details for users, including:
- how eligible customers can activate or access the 3 GB, voice and SMS package
- which districts and subscriber segments are covered
- how long the relief benefits will remain available
- what level of service quality can be expected at evacuation sites and other critical locations
Travellers, divers and residents planning to rely on mobile communications in Flores during the recovery period may therefore face local variations in coverage and service reliability, particularly in areas that experienced strong shaking, tsunami inundation or prolonged power cuts.
Sources
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