The Audio Long Read Extremely offline: what happened when a Pacific island was cut off from the internet
Nov 7, 2025
A powerful volcanic eruption devastated Tonga's internet connection, revealing our reliance on fragile underwater cables. Residents faced historical isolation as communication cut off. Ingenious workarounds emerged: banks used thumb drives, while a sailor sent crucial messages via sat-text. The rebuilding efforts took weeks, highlighting the need for more resilient infrastructure. Discussions on the geopolitical implications of cable security emphasize the fragility of global connectivity in modern life.
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The Internet Is Tangible And Fragile
- Subsea cables are thin, garden-hose–like structures carrying 95% of international internet traffic across vast distances.
- Their fragile physicality makes the global internet materially dependent on few vulnerable links rather than ethereal infrastructure.
Volcanic Damage Can Sever Whole Networks
- The Hunga Tonga eruption likely caused fast-moving pyroclastic flows that severed and buried long stretches of cable offshore.
- When the cable failed, Tonga lost not just internet but landline telephony too, revealing how dependent communications are on fibre routes.
Facebook Messenger As Lifeline
- Tonga relied heavily on Facebook Messenger for everyday communication, especially on outer islands with spotty phone service.
- Without the internet, people had to travel by road, sea or air to find out whether loved ones and services were intact.
