28 Jan 2019

Tonga coping as well as it can with cut cable - Senituli

5:16 pm on 28 January 2019

The Tonga government says the country is coping as well as it possibly can with a cut to its internet and phone links with the outside.

A telecommunications tower in Lautoka, Fiji

Photo: RNZ/Sally Round

The Tonga Cable to Fiji, and the cable to the country's outer islands, were both cut on Sunday last week, severely limiting phone and internet use.

A repair ship is expected to arrive at the site shortly to begin repairs.

A spokesperson for the government, Lopeti Senituli, said the impact on the government itself had been minimal, but ministries have asked the public to be patient.

"There is some restoration of connections through satellites beginning towards the end of last week, and much better today. of course social media is still very restricted, and things are - I suppose we are doing as well as possible."

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