‘Network Slowdown Drill’ Schedule Revealed for 14 Counties and Cities! Will Streaming and Mobile Payments Be Affected? Premier Cho Responds

This August, a large-scale 'mobile network slowdown drill' will be conducted as part of the urban resilience exercise. Services such as video streaming, video calls, mobile payments, and cloud synchronization may be affected.

Premier Cho Jung-tai stated that the purpose of this network slowdown drill is to strengthen the public's ability to respond using backup communication methods. He emphasized that this drill is not a complete 'internet shutdown,' but rather a 'network slowdown.'

Administrative Yuan spokesperson Lee Hui-chih relayed Premier Cho's directives during today's post-cabinet press conference. Cho pointed out that communications are a vital lifeline for national resilience, and resources may be disrupted by natural disasters, large-scale cyberattacks, or compound disasters.

Therefore, this year's urban resilience exercise, drawing on experiences from democratic nations such as Japan, South Korea, and Nordic countries, will include for the first time a large-scale 'mobile network slowdown drill.' The goal is to simulate extreme scenarios, verify the government's response capabilities under limited communication conditions, promote public awareness of diverse backup communication methods, and further enhance nationwide resilience awareness—'better safe than sorry.'

According to Cho, the urban resilience exercise will be conducted across 14 counties and cities in central and northern Taiwan, combining air raid drills with mobile network slowdowns. The central region will conduct the drill on August 10 (Monday) from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM, while the northern region will hold it on August 13 (Thursday) during the same time frame. It must be emphasized again: this drill is not a 'network shutdown,' but a 'slowdown.' Basic operations such as voice calls, SMS, and text messaging will remain fully functional. However, high-bandwidth services—including video streaming, video calls, mobile payments, and cloud synchronization—may be affected. The aim is to use this slowdown drill to build the public's ability to adapt and prepare alternative communication methods.

During the drill, the government will ensure that critical public services remain uninterrupted, including communications for medical institutions, normal operation of transportation systems, and smooth access to emergency numbers such as 119 and 110. All relevant agencies are instructed to implement backup communication plans effectively and ensure that public safety and normal social operations are not compromised.

The National Communications Commission (NCC) is requested to continue collaborating with the three major telecom operators, relevant ministries, and local governments to ensure technical coordination and rapid system recovery after the drill. Additionally, comprehensive public outreach through various channels must be implemented, especially to promptly clarify any misinformation or false reports related to the drill. The Disaster Prevention Alert Cell Broadcast Service (CBS) will also be properly utilized to send reminders and guidance before, during, and after the exercise.

Under the premise of minimizing social impact while maximizing protective benefits, this drill aims to enhance Taiwan's overall communication and societal defense resilience.

The NCC stated that the scope of the mobile network slowdown drill for the urban resilience exercise is as follows: The central region will conduct the drill on August 10 (Monday), including Miaoli County, Taichung City, Nantou County, Changhua County, Yunlin County, Chiayi City, and Chiayi County. The northern region will conduct the drill on August 13 (Thursday), including Yilan County, Keelung City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu City, and Hsinchu County.