29 Jan 2019

Tonga coping well as can be expected - govt official

From , 5:05 am on 29 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.

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.

There has been access to satellites since the disaster, and this has been increased in the days since, but capacity is significantly below what had been provided by the cable.

A repair ship, sent from Apia, is expected to begin repairs shortly.

Don Wiseman asked the spokesperson for the govenrment, Lopeti Senituli, how they are coping.

A telecommunications tower in Lautoka, Fiji

Photo: RNZ/Sally Round