Taiwan activated a microwave backup communications system after rough seas apparently pushed ship wreckage onto an undersea cable serving Dongyin, snapping the link. Mobile phone, voice and data services have been restored via the backup, though cable TV remains offline and some internet may be delayed. Chunghwa Telecom aims to finish repairs by the end of July, weather permitting. The incident revives concerns about cable vulnerability after 2023 cuts and has prompted continued resilience measures such as LEO satellite trials.
Storm-Driven Wreckage Snaps Undersea Cable — Taiwan Activates Backup Communications for Dongyin
FILE PHOTO: A general view of the main residential and commercial area in Dongyin, Taiwan, March 15, 2022. Picture taken March 15, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo
Taiwan has activated backup communications for Dongyin, its northernmost outlying island, after rough seas apparently pushed ship wreckage onto an undersea cable and caused it to break, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said.
Dongyin — a strategic island of about 1,500 residents at the northern end of the Taiwan Strait — has no airport and relies on ferries for connections to Taiwan. The island hosts a significant military presence and has long been considered vulnerable because it depends on a limited number of undersea cables for connectivity.
Backup System Restores Phone and Data
The ministry said a microwave communications backup system has been activated to carry voice and internet traffic. Under that arrangement, mobile phone, voice and data internet services on Dongyin are operating normally. However, cable television remains offline and some internet services may experience minor delays due to ongoing weather impacts.
Ministry of Digital Affairs: "A microwave backup communications system has been put into service to carry voice and internet traffic while repairs proceed."
Repairs and Timeline
Chunghwa Telecom, the carrier responsible for repairs, expects to complete work by the end of July, but the ministry cautioned the timeline depends on weather conditions that affect repair vessels and operations.
Wider Concerns and Resilience Measures
The incident highlights the persistent vulnerability of undersea cables linking Taiwan's outlying islands. In 2023, two cables serving the Matsu islands were cut, temporarily severing internet connections; Taiwanese authorities pointed to two Chinese vessels as related to that disruption but said there was no conclusive evidence of deliberate tampering by Beijing.
Since then, Taiwan has accelerated efforts to harden communications for emergencies, including trials of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites to provide redundancy for remote islands such as Matsu and Dongyin.
Reporting: Ben Blanchard. Editing: Edwina Gibbs.
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