Tonga’s volcano-damaged submarine cable is now back in support, restoring the Pacific island nation’s access to broadband online.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai eruption in January virtually obliterated the uninhabited island, leaving only two smaller islands, Hunga Tonga and Hunga Ha’apai. The eruption also broke the Tonga Cable, which connects Tonga to Fiji, in many places.

The backlink to Fiji is crucial for Tonga’s global connectivity, considering that it gives access to the Southern Cross Cable Network.

Phone solutions have been restored working with satellite products and services which include Telstra, Spark, SES and NOVELSAT., but broadband access experienced to wait for a cable maintenance ship, the RV Reliance, to achieve the cable crack and comprehensive its function.

Previously this month, Reliance’s owner SubCom introduced the ship’s function was accomplished, in the incredibly brief time of 8 times.

Tonga’s Digicel claimed entire connectivity is now restored.

Digicel CEO Anthony Seuseu mentioned the carrier is taking into consideration foreseeable future cable investments in light-weight of the crack.

“We have leant some difficult lessons and we know how vital web relationship is to our folks,” Seuseu stated.

“The latest incident has also supplied the prospect to our crew to glimpse at elevated expense and community optimisation to strategy and get ready far better for a catastrophic function of these kinds of character in the potential.”

Seuseu mentioned the company’s domestic cable continues to be down, so the 40 islands of Vava’u are continue to employing satellite communications.