...That first quake knocked out parts of the SeaMeWe 3 (South East Asia Middle East Western Europe 3) and APCN2 (Asia Pacific Cable Network 2) underseas cables. Both are major telecommunications arteries in East Asia, and their temporary loss led to the problems being observed today. Traffic that traversed the cables has been switched onto alternate routes, but those other cables are now congested.
As a result Taiwan's telecommunications infrastructure was hit hard, with just 40 percent of international calling capacity to the U.S. functioning normally, Chunghwa Telecom, the country's largest operator, said in a statement. Calling capacity to Japan and China was also affected, with 11 percent and 10 percent of capacity operational, respectively, it said.
Damage to the cables also disrupted Internet access in China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, Chunghwa said, noting that it will take up to three weeks to repair the affected cable systems.
In Beijing, a China Network Communications (China Netcom) representative said some international connections had been affected. That disruption left some international Web sites accessible in Beijing, while others could not be reached. The spokesman did not know when full service might be restored.
