Taiwan carried out a civil defense exercise this week that included a significant first element: a simulated internet blackout affecting 14 cities and counties in the northern and central portions of the island. The disruption was intentional and designed to demonstrate the vulnerability of digital communications during a potential crisis, affecting data-heavy services including video calls, streaming applications, and mobile payments. Officials described the exercise as an effort to raise public awareness about preparedness and test backup systems that residents might need to rely on in an emergency.
The exercise highlighted existing concerns about Taiwan’s reliance on submarine cables for internet connectivity. The island’s digital infrastructure depends on 16 international cables and 10 domestic ones, which the government has characterized as an essential lifeline. In recent years, several cables have been damaged in incidents involving vessels with Chinese or China-linked connections, which Taiwan’s coast guard has labeled a “grey zone” strategy. In 2025, convictions were secured against two individuals connected to deliberate and negligent cable damage incidents affecting the Penghu and Matsu archipelagos administered by Taiwan.
In response to these vulnerabilities, Taiwan is developing multiple layers of backup communications infrastructure to ensure no single disruption could completely isolate the island. Low-Earth-orbit satellite services have emerged as a potential option, with Taiwan’s legislature recently approving amendments that could allow access to such networks. Planners have cited lessons from Ukraine, where satellite-based internet proved valuable following damage to conventional infrastructure during military conflict.
Researchers note that communication disruptions during a crisis could create significant psychological challenges. Officials emphasize that backup channels would be critical not only for maintaining connectivity but also for delivering reliable information to prevent fear and uncertainty that hostile forces might otherwise exploit. Some residents have already begun preparing by learning alternative communication methods, such as radio-based messaging systems that operate independently of traditional internet infrastructure.
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