Taiwan is promoting digital transmission systems that use balloons and satellites to secure internet and phone connections in the event of natural disasters or war.
The Ministry of Digital Affairs invited media crews on Thursday to see a balloon-based backup system in the eastern county of Taitung.
A demonstration of the balloon system was canceled because of strong winds.
Officials say the balloons are to be launched at an altitude of more than 800 meters to link up digital transmissions. They say a truck-based mobile base station can only cover an area with a radius of 2 kilometers, but balloons can extend the coverage to a radius of 11 kilometers.
The head of the ministry, Yennun Huang, said Taiwan has a range of solutions to deal with possible disruptions to digital access in the event of natural disasters or other emergency situations.
He pointed out that the balloon-based technology can be operated under Taiwan’s own control, without being affected by outside influences.
On Wednesday, media personnel were shown a telecom transmission system that relies on a low Earth orbit satellite circling at an altitude of 1,200 kilometers.
Taiwanese authorities plan to set up satellite telecom facilities at over 700 locations, including major cities and remote islands, by the end of the year.