Tonga reconnects to world as submarine cable restored after tsunami | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Friday
May 16, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Epaper
  • Economy
    • Aviation
    • Banking
    • Bazaar
    • Budget
    • Industry
    • NBR
    • RMG
    • Corporates
  • Stocks
  • Analysis
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • Subscribe
    • Epaper
    • GOVT. Ad
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
FRIDAY, MAY 16, 2025
Tonga reconnects to world as submarine cable restored after tsunami

World+Biz

Reuters
22 February, 2022, 01:30 pm
Last modified: 22 February, 2022, 01:35 pm

Related News

  • Tsunami warning for far-south Chile after 7.5-magnitude quake
  • Internet to get cheaper as Submarine Cables cuts bandwidth prices by 10%
  • Magnitude 7.6 quake shakes Caribbean, tsunami advisory issued
  • Magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits southern Japan, triggers tsunami warnings
  • As sabotage allegations swirl, NATO struggles to secure the Baltic Sea

Tonga reconnects to world as submarine cable restored after tsunami

Tongans have struggled with makeshift satellite services as the repairs to the cable were made

Reuters
22 February, 2022, 01:30 pm
Last modified: 22 February, 2022, 01:35 pm
People clean debris following volcanic eruption and tsunami, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga in this picture obtained from social media on January 20, 2022. Photo :Reuters
People clean debris following volcanic eruption and tsunami, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga in this picture obtained from social media on January 20, 2022. Photo :Reuters

Tonga was reconnected to the world on Tuesday following repairs to a submarine cable, officials said, a month after a volcanic eruption and tsunami cut communications to the remote Pacific island nation.

"People on the main island will have access almost immediately," Tonga Cable chief executive James Panuve told Reuters by telephone, after a repair ship handed over the restored cable on Tuesday afternoon.

School chaplain Penisimani Akauola Tonga was among those getting back online for the first time since the disaster struck the tiny island nation in mid January.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

"First post on Facebook since January 15th! So Blessed for the opportunity! Malo Tonga Cable & Tonga Government!" he wrote.

Tongans have struggled with makeshift satellite services as the repairs to the cable were made.

The repair ship Reliance took 20 days to replace a 92-kilometre (57-mile) section of the 827 km submarine fibre optice cable that connects Tonga to Fiji and other international networks.

Panuve thanked telecommunications companies in neighbouring Pacific islands, particularly New Caledonia, which provided lengths of cable when Tonga ran out.

The next job would be to repair the domestic cable connecting the main island of Tongatapu with outlying islands that were worst hit by the tsunami, which could take six to nine months, said Panuve.

"We don't have enough cable," he added.

Still, communication using interim satelite services to outlying islands would improve after Tonga's networks switched the main island from satellite to fibre, he said.

One of two major service providers, Digicel said in a statement all its customers on Tongatapu and Eua islands were connected to the outside world as data connectivity was restored.

Digicel Tonga chief executive, Anthony Seuseu said in a statement that the compancy would look at increasing investment and network optimization to prepare better for a catastrophic event... in the future".

Digicel's Pacific business was bought by Australian telecommunications company Telstra Corp in October with financing by the Australian government.

Top News

tonga / Submarine Cable / tsunami

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Jagannath University students gather at Kakrail on 16 May 2025. Photo: Mehedi Hasan/TBS
    JnU students continue Kakrail sit in, hunger strike after Jummah prayers amid DMP ban on rallies, demos
  • Infographic: TBS
    Govt goes for $4b hard loans for fuel imports, dev projects
  • File photo of different varieties of rice. Photo: TBS
    Rice prices fall further, eggs become costlier

MOST VIEWED

  • Up to 20% dearness allowance for govt employees likely from July
    Up to 20% dearness allowance for govt employees likely from July
  • Infographics: TBS
    Textile sector under pressure; big players buck the trend
  • Shift to market-based exchange rate regime – what does it mean for the economy?
    Shift to market-based exchange rate regime – what does it mean for the economy?
  • Representational image. Photo: TBS
    Prime mover workers to go on nationwide strike tomorrow
  • Rais Uddin, general secretary of the university's teachers' association, made the announcement while talking to the media last night (15 May). Photo: Videograb
    JnU teachers, students to go on mass hunger strike after Friday prayers
  • Representational image. Photo: ADEK BERRY / AFP
    Dollar steady at Tk122.50, experts say more time needed to realise impact

Related News

  • Tsunami warning for far-south Chile after 7.5-magnitude quake
  • Internet to get cheaper as Submarine Cables cuts bandwidth prices by 10%
  • Magnitude 7.6 quake shakes Caribbean, tsunami advisory issued
  • Magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits southern Japan, triggers tsunami warnings
  • As sabotage allegations swirl, NATO struggles to secure the Baltic Sea

Features

Hatitjheel’s water has turned black and emits a foul odour, causing significant public distress. Photo: Syed Zakir Hossain

Blackened waters and foul stench: Why can't Rajuk control Hatirjheel pollution?

15h | Panorama
An old-fashioned telescope, also from an old ship, is displayed at a store at Chattogram’s Madam Bibir Hat area. PHOTO: TBS

NO SCRAP LEFT BEHIND: How Bhatiari’s ship graveyard still furnishes homes across Bangladesh

1d | Panorama
Sketch: TBS

‘National University is now focusing on technical and language education’

2d | Pursuit
Illustration: TBS

How to crack the code to get into multinational companies

2d | Pursuit

More Videos from TBS

Season's First Mango Harvest Begins in Rajshahi

Season's First Mango Harvest Begins in Rajshahi

1h | TBS Today
Ben Cohen arrested for protesting US support for Israel

Ben Cohen arrested for protesting US support for Israel

13h | TBS News Updates
What is the secret behind the success of Pakistan's Chinese J-10C fighter jet?

What is the secret behind the success of Pakistan's Chinese J-10C fighter jet?

13h | Others
Why are Jagannath University students and teachers on a blockade?

Why are Jagannath University students and teachers on a blockade?

14h | Podcast
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net