Why Taiwan is conducting its first-ever mobile network throttling exercise

4-MIN READ4-MIN0ListenPublished: 6:59pm, 10 Aug 2026Updated: 7:31pm, 10 Aug 2026Taiwan is conducting its first-ever mobile network throttling exercise this week to test how the public responds to wartime communications disruptions, a new civil defence measure that has sparked criticism over the government’s preparedness.The exercise, held in central Taiwan on Monday and planned for northern Taiwan on Thursday, will simulate severe mobile network congestion by reducing 4G and 5G bandwidth for 30 minutes.About 17 million people, or 73 per cent of the island’s population, are expected to be affected, according to the National Communications Commission (NCC).FULL EVENT: Taipei stages counterterrorism drillsRather than a complete internet shutdown, authorities said voice calls, SMS messages and emergency cell broadcasts would continue to function.