AiBotTAIPEI, TAIWAN – In a move aimed at strengthening national cybersecurity and urban resilience, Taiwan successfully conducted its first-ever large-scale mobile internet slowdown drill today. The exercise, part of the 2026 Urban Resilience Exercise, saw 4G and 5G data speeds deliberately throttled across central Taiwan for a 30-minute period, simulating a real-world cyber attack scenario.
The drill, which was carried out by Taiwan’s Ministry of Digital Affairs in collaboration with local telecommunications providers, included a total of 17 million mobile users across seven central counties. Starting at 14:00 local time, mobile internet speeds were reduced to approximately 10% of their usual rates, effectively grinding online activity to a near-halt.
According to officials, the primary objective of the exercise was to test Taiwan’s preparedness for potential future cyber threats, such as large-scale denial-of-service attacks or data breaches. By simulating the effects of throttled internet speeds on various aspects of civic life, planners sought to identify areas of vulnerability in the country’s critical infrastructure.
“Today’s drill is an essential step towards enhancing Taiwan’s urban resilience,” said a Ministry of Digital Affairs spokesperson. “We recognize that our digital dependence is a double-edged sword, and we must be proactive in safeguarding our citizens from potential online threats. By simulating a realistic cyber attack scenario, we aim to pinpoint areas for improvement and fortify our defenses against future incidents.”
Throughout the exercise, emergency services, critical infrastructure, and select public institutions maintained operational continuity using dedicated satellite communication channels. Commercial mobile networks were isolated, ensuring that citizens were not unduly inconvenienced.
Taiwan’s National Cyber Defense Operations Center closely monitored the drill, observing the responses of both government agencies and the general public. According to reports, the vast majority of users remained calm and adapted well to the sudden reduction in internet speeds, highlighting the resilience of the Taiwanese public.
While the exercise was focused on simulating a cyber attack, authorities did not rule out the possibility of repeating the drill in the future under different scenarios. By subjecting Taiwan’s critical infrastructure to realistic stress tests, the government aims to reinforce its capacity to handle potential cyber threats while enhancing overall urban resilience.