Key facts
- Taiwan will intentionally slow mobile internet speeds during civil defence drills in August.
- The drills are designed to test communication resilience in emergencies, including potential Chinese aggression.
- High-bandwidth services will be temporarily unavailable in 14 cities and counties in northern and central Taiwan.
- Essential services such as ATMs, traffic signals, and emergency calls will remain unaffected.
- The exercise aims to prepare the public for using alternative communication methods like landlines or walkie-talkies.
Taiwan is set to deliberately slow mobile internet speeds for the first time during its annual civil defence drills in August, a measure designed to test how citizens would communicate if bandwidth becomes scarce during emergencies, including a potential Chinese invasion or blockade. The exercise will affect approximately 70% of the population across 14 cities and counties in northern and central Taiwan, temporarily disabling high-bandwidth services such as video calls, streaming, and social media image sharing for 30 minutes each time.
This initiative underscores Taiwan's heightened preparedness efforts amid increasing military pressure from China. Officials stated the drills aim not only to involve government agencies but also to bolster public readiness in utilizing diverse communication methods. A senior security official cited recent increases in Chinese coast guard activities as a concern and noted that disrupted communications drills are a global trend, with examples from Japan and Singapore.
Communications resilience has become a significant strategic concern for Taipei, particularly after recent undersea cable disruptions exposed vulnerabilities to sabotage or China's 'grey-zone' tactics. Taiwanese authorities have been conducting drills for 'compound disasters,' which could involve cascading crises from earthquakes to war. Essential services like ATMs, traffic signals, and emergency calls will not be impacted by the slowdown. Officials are encouraging the public to consider backup communication options, such as landlines or walkie-talkies, and to pre-arrange contact methods with family members.