Chunghwa Telecom reassures cable services unaffected after failure reports

Taipei, Sept. 2 (CNA) Chunghwa Telecom Co., Ltd. on Tuesday reassured the public that all submarine cables in which it has invested or manages remain fully operational and that the services it provides are unaffected, following online reports of multiple undersea cable failures around Taiwan.

Taiwan's largest integrated telecommunications operator issued the statement after the Taiwan Submarine Cable Map, an interactive platform that shows the current status and historical incidents impacting Taiwan's submarine cables, reported several disruptions, the latest on Sept. 1 on the EAC2 cable to Southeast Asia.

Other cables reportedly impacted include EAC1 (Hong Kong route), C2C (affecting Hong Kong traffic), RNAL NACS (Hong Kong route), FNAL (Hong Kong-Japan, with no Taiwan landing), F/RNAL NACS (Japan route), and two domestic cables -- TWTK2 and TWTP3 (two sections).

Chunghwa Telecom clarified that the EAC2, EAC1, C2C, RNAL, and FNAL are not part of its investments and stressed that all international cables it has funded are functioning normally.

The company also said earlier domestic cable faults under its management had been repaired, including TWTK2 on Jan. 3 and two TWTP3 breaks on May 7 and May 11.

Chunghwa Telecom added that it has invested in more than 14 international cables linking Taiwan and continues to expand with new systems and satellite backups to diversify connections and reduce risk.

Later in the day, the Ministry of Digital Affairs (MODA) confirmed that three international cables connected to Taiwan -- RNAL/FNAL, C2C, and EAC1 -- have been damaged since July and are awaiting repair, with completion expected between September and November.

As to the EAC2 cable, the ministry said, the fault occurred on the section between the Philippines and Singapore, while the segment connecting Taiwan to the landing station in the Philippines remains fully operational.

The MODA emphasized that backup routes are in place, ensuring no disruption to Taiwan's external connectivity.