Undersea cables to offshore Lienchiang County (Matsu), which lies off the coast of China, were disconnected, the Ministry of Digital Affairs said today, while Chunghwa Telecom said back-up communications were activated.
There are two cables connecting Matsu with the main island.
One of them was completely disconnected, while another was seriously malfunctioned, two sources familiar with the matter said.
Photo courtesy of Taiwan Power Co
Back-up communications including microwave communications have been activated, they said.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Chunghwa Telecom said that the No. 3 cable connecting New Taipei City's Tamsui (淡水) on Taiwan proper and Dongyin Island (東引) was obstructed on Wednesday last week.
Then early this morning, the No. 2 cable connecting Taoyuan's Guanyin District (觀音) and Nangan Island (南竿) was disrupted, the telecom provider said.
Internet traffic has been diverted to microwave transmission, it said, adding that technicians have been dispatched to respond.
Additional reporting by Hsu Tzu-ling and Kayleigh Madjar
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