Tonga: Internet disruptions on Vava'u and Ha'apai Islands continue as of July 23 /update 1

Internet disruptions are continuing to affect Vava'u and Ha'apai Islands of Tonga as of July 23 due to damages to an undersea cable. The disruptions started June 29 after an earthquake and are causing business and service interruptions. Impacted sectors include tourism, hospitality, financial services such as point-of-sale payments and online banking, internet-based voice calls, and offshore communication on yachts. Although officials have commenced repair works, normalization may take several weeks.

The government has approved the use of the Starlink private internet provider for six months, effective July 19, to meet demands. Slow internet speeds, intermittent connectivity, and outages are likely to continue for users of domestic internet service providers until repairs conclude.