Taiwan will slow mobile internet services across much of the island during next month’s nationwide civil defense exercises to test how people would communicate if networks were disrupted during a war or major disaster.
Taiwan’s National Communications Commission (NCC) said Monday that mobile data services would be throttled for half an hour in 14 cities and counties in northern and central Taiwan during the Urban Resilience Exercises, held alongside the annual Han Kuang military drills in mid-August.
The exercise will reduce 4G and 5G mobile data speeds to about 1% of their normal capacity, local media reported, citing government planning documents. Video streaming, video calls, social media and large file transfers are expected to become largely unusable. Voice calls, text messages, emergency alerts and calls to emergency services will continue to function.
Authorities said the exercise is not an internet shutdown. Fixed broadband, WiFi, landline telephone services, military communications and other dedicated networks will continue to operate normally.
The drill is intended to prepare people to seek alternative channels if mobile data networks become unreliable, local officials cited by Reuters and Bloomberg said during a briefing in Taipei.
Authorities are urging residents to prepare by downloading offline maps, switching to WiFi for scheduled online meetings and establishing backup plans for contacting family members during emergencies.
The drill is part of Taiwan’s annual Urban Resilience Exercises, which are integrated with the Han Kuang operation. In addition to the communications test, the exercises will rehearse civilian evacuations, expand emergency medical capacity and evaluate the use of drones to deliver supplies and medical equipment.
Taiwan’s defense ministry said the drill will help determine whether similar exercises should be expanded elsewhere on the island.
The exercise comes as Taiwan places greater emphasis on resilience against both military conflict — presumably with China — and natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes. The island has experienced several disruptions to undersea communications cables in recent years.
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