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Elon Musk kept his word and supports restoring the internet in Tonga
After the natural disaster caused by the volcanic eruption and the tsunami in Tonga, the only submarine fiber optic cable was damaged
SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk is helping to get Tonga reconnected to the internet after an eruption and tsunami cut off the South Pacific island.
Tonga would have been incommunicado for more than three weeks, according to the authorities, the repairs to the submarine cable are more problematic than they had thought.
When the tsunami occurred, the only fiber optic cable that connects the island with the rest of the world would have been cut. Currently, most of the inhabitants are still offline or failing.
After the eruption of the underwater volcano on January 15, it was confirmed that three people died and volcanic ash contaminated much of the drinking water supply. After the eruption, a tsunami was produced that devastated the surrounding islands.
Tonga had had no cases of Covid-19 for more than two years, and is currently in the midst of an outbreak as a result of the entry of foreign military personnel delivering humanitarian aid.
Many inhabitants of the island are confined and incommunicado as a result of the submarine cable cut by the tsunami.
The support of Elon Musk
Now, with the support of Elon Musk, the Tongans have a chance that communications and the internet will be restored in the coming days.
An authority from the neighboring island of Fiji posted on his Twitter account that the team from Musk's SpaceX company were in the territory setting up a station, which would help Tonga reconnect thanks to the StarkLink satellites.
The SpaceX company owns a network of around 2,000 low-orbiting satellites called StarLink, which provides internet to places in the world that do not have access.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Fiji's Attorney General, posted a tweet referencing the work being done by SpaceX, adding that the shock wave from the eruption had wiped out Tonga's internet connection.
Sources close to Sayed-Khaiym said on Wednesday that they were waiting for more information on the Staklink project before announcing further details.
Elon Musk showed interest in the situation in Tonga a few days after the eruption, posting on his Twitter account: "Could the people of Tonga tell us if it is important for SpaceX to send Starlink terminals?"
New Zealand politician Shane Reti reportedly contacted Elon Musk requesting support to provide Starklink connection to Tonga.
Soon after, when Fiji issued its statement, Reti publicly thanked Musk for providing Tonga with a satellite.
On the other hand, the president of Tonga Cable (state telecommunications company), Samiuela Fonua assured that the repair of the submarine cable would not be finished until the end of next week.
Founa stated that the positive news is that personnel aboard the repair ship had located both parts of the failed cable.
However, he pointed out that the damage was very extensive and the company did not have enough cable on board to cover the damage of more than 80 kilometers.
The president of Tonga Cable assured that there were more cables inside the ship, but that they belong to other companies, he concluded by noting that they are already in talks with those companies for their use.
A team of specialists sent by the UN provided small satellites and other telecommunications elements to improve internet connection and communications, said spokesman Stephane Dujarric. In addition, he highlighted that there are more teams on the way to Tonga.
