Taiwan’s largest telecom provider says the Matsu Islands will not be “orphaned.” That came in response to a Thursday news conference organized by the opposition KMT criticizing the disruption in the islands’ internet service.
Broadband service to the islands was downed after two undersea cables connecting the area to Taiwan’s main island were damaged earlier this month. Chunghwa Telecom says the cables were likely damaged by Chinese freighters operating around the islands.
KMT lawmakers Chen Hsueh-sheng (陳雪生) says the lack of network service has affected numerous sectors like the military, education, and tourism. She says the islands have become “orphaned.”
In response, the telecom says it apologizes for the situation and is already providing 24-hour Wifi service in all of its stores throughout the islands. The provider says since the accidents occurred, it has used a backup microwave system to restore voice, national security, and other state communications. It says that the system will be expanded to nearly double bandwidth by the middle of next month.
The telecom says the most quickly boats from abroad dispatched to repair the cables can arrive in Taiwan is April 20. But it says it will continue working to make that date earlier.