A shipwreck knocked out internet service on a Taiwanese island. Microwave antennas are providing a temporary fix — but the incident highlights the growing need for low-Earth-orbit communication satellites.
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A few weeks ago, the internet connection to Dongyin Island, north of Taiwan, was suddenly cut off.
Suspicion immediately fell on China, which has previously been accused of deliberately severing undersea internet cables in the region as part of its pressure campaign against Taiwan. This time, however, the culprit turned out to be an old shipwreck resting on the seabed near the cable, whose movement caused it to snap.
As a temporary solution for the island's residents, the Taiwanese government has deployed an interesting communications technology — microwave links, also known as millimeter waves in the wireless communications world.
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Millimeter waves are very high-frequency radio waves in the 70–80 GHz range, capable of delivering data transfer speeds of 10–20 Gbps, compared with up to 2 Gbps on the conventional frequencies used in Wi-Fi connections.
The wavelength of millimeter-wave signals is roughly the size of a raindrop, which causes raindrops to absorb the wave and convert its energy into heat — meaning clear air between antennas is essential. This makes the technology effective only over ranges of a few kilometers with a direct line of sight, requiring antennas to be installed at short intervals from one another.
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Undersea cables are expensive and massive, and replacing them requires a specialized vessel and costs a fortune.
Dependence on submarine communications cables is an increasingly serious strategic risk, as these communication arteries become legitimate targets in any conflict between nations.
To provide a viable backup communications solution, substantial investment is now flowing into companies developing low-Earth-orbit (LEO) communication satellites, such as those operated by Starlink.
A network of LEO communication satellites can deliver a direct internet connection to end users without the need for a complex antenna infrastructure as an intermediary. Proper deployment of these satellites makes it possible to route signals to the ground around storm systems that would otherwise impede the passage of radio waves through the atmosphere.
Unlike traditional geostationary communication satellites, LEO satellites offer low latency that supports voice calls and video streaming — and despite the enormous cost of launching and maintaining satellites, the per-user cost falls as adoption grows.
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Pictured: Zhongju Island is a small rocky reef between Dongyin Island and Xieyin Island. At low tide it becomes a land bridge connecting the two islands, allowing supplies to be transported between them. In 1986, a permanent causeway was built to enable overland passage even at high tide, and in gratitude for the president's support of the project, a pavilion with a statue of him was erected there.
The islands serve as Taiwan's forward outpost facing the Chinese coast, and are well prepared to repel any potential military attack from that direction.
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