Taiwan will deliberately slow mobile internet speeds for the first time during its annual civil defence exercises in August, as the island prepares for scenarios ranging from natural disasters to a potential Chinese invasion.
The unprecedented exercise is designed to test how people would communicate if mobile bandwidth became severely limited during a national emergency.
Streaming and Video Calls to Be Restricted
During the 30-minute drill, high-bandwidth services—including video calls, livestreaming and image-heavy social media platforms—will be temporarily restricted across 14 cities and counties in northern and central Taiwan, home to nearly 70% of the island’s population.
Essential services such as emergency telephone calls, ambulance dispatch, ATMs, banking systems and traffic signals will continue operating normally.
The communication slowdown will take place in central Taiwan on August 10 and northern Taiwan on August 13, coinciding with the island’s annual air raid exercises.
Preparing for Modern Warfare
Taiwanese officials say the exercise reflects growing concern that future conflicts may involve attacks on communications infrastructure alongside conventional military operations.
A senior security official said the government wants citizens to become familiar with alternative methods of communication if mobile networks are disrupted.
“We hope these drills will not only involve government agencies but also encourage the public to prepare for using different communication methods during emergencies,” the official said.
Authorities pointed to the recent increase in Chinese coast guard activity around Taiwan as another reminder of the need to improve overall resilience.
Lessons from Undersea Cable Disruptions
Taiwan has become increasingly focused on communications security after several undersea cable disruptions in recent years exposed vulnerabilities in its digital infrastructure.
Officials say outages could result from natural disasters, deliberate sabotage or China’s so-called “grey-zone” pressure tactics, which stop short of direct military conflict while increasing pressure on the island.
As a result, Taiwan has expanded preparations for “compound disasters”—multiple crises occurring simultaneously, such as earthquakes combined with cyberattacks or military action.
Citizens Encouraged to Have Backup Plans
A second senior security official urged residents to prepare alternative communication methods before the drill.
Suggested backup options include landline telephones, fixed broadband internet connections and even walkie-talkies where available.
Families are also being encouraged to agree in advance on emergency meeting points and alternative ways to stay in contact if mobile services become unreliable.
The government plans to launch a public awareness campaign, including television ticker messages, to explain how residents should respond during the exercise.
China-Taiwan Tensions Remain High
China considers self-governed Taiwan part of its territory and has repeatedly refused to rule out the use of force to bring the island under Beijing’s control.
Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims and maintains that only its 23 million people can determine the island’s future.
As military pressure from Beijing continues to intensify, Taiwan is increasingly focusing on strengthening not only its military capabilities but also the resilience of critical civilian infrastructure and public preparedness.
(with inputs from Reuters)
