Taiwan has for the first time simulated a coordinated internet attack, drastically reducing internet speeds on Thursday across 14 cities and counties in northern and central Taiwan. This exercise, which affected roughly 70% of the island's 23 million people, made data-heavy services like video calls, streaming, and mobile payments difficult or impossible to use.
Authorities stated the drill was designed to encourage people to prepare alternative communication methods in an emergency. This forms part of Taiwan’s efforts to strengthen its civil resilience in the face of growing military threats from Beijing.
The exercise highlighted concerns about the vulnerability of Taiwan’s submarine cable network, which includes 16 international and 10 domestic cables. Several cables have reportedly been damaged in recent years in incidents involving Chinese or China-linked vessels.
Taiwan is exploring multiple layers of backup communications, including low-Earth-orbit satellite services, to prevent a single disruption from isolating the island. Lessons from Ukraine, where Starlink played a role after infrastructure damage, have influenced this approach. Taiwan's legislature recently approved amendments that could facilitate Starlink's entry into the local market.