Submarine cable

The cable repair ship arrived at Queen Salote Wharf in Nuku’alofa Monday evening.

The Department of Communications in the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs collaborated to provide diplomatic clearance for the ship.

The Department of Communications is the policy institution and regulator for Tonga’s communications sector.

Tonga lost its internet and phone connections on Sunday last week when the Tonga Cable linking it with Fiji was cut.

A second cable to the outer islands was also severed.

A government spokesperson, Lopeti Senituli, said there were already talks between Tonga Cable, the Tonga Communications Corporation and the Ministry of Communications, to ensure such a problem doesn't recur.

He said the government had previously been given an understanding there was almost no chance of the cable failing.

It’s been 8-days with the outage and Digicel Tonga continues to face data connectivity issues because of the major fibre cut in the submarine cable resulting in the unstable data services.   

Digicel wishes to advise all its customers that they can make International and Locals calls as well as send text messages both locally and international, however using data services will only allow you to use basic services such as browsing to stay connected with family and friends.

The connections failed nearly a week ago, largely shutting down phone and internet access throughout the country.

Some service has now been restored through the use of a satellite but capacity is limited.

Director Paula Piukala said one of the breaks is 7.7 kilometres from the landing station on Tonga's main island, Tongatapu, and the other is about 11.1 kilometres offshore.

One of the cables is a reconnection to Vava'u and the other northern Tonga islands.

Talks on the development were held in New Zealand recently, and engaged the leaders of the Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Niue and Tokelau.

The Cook Islands finance minister, Mark Brown, who was at the meeting, said they heard from two vendors for the cable - Auckland-based Hawaiki, and Bluesky.