A time-tested solution for Asia's damaged Internet cables

SINGAPORE: Workers are relying on 19th century technology to fix a very 21st century problem disruption of the Internet traffic that tech-savvy Asia relies on.

Crewmen on boats south of Taiwan are dragging the seabed with grappling hooks at the end of long ropes to recover fibre optic cables damaged in a 7.1-magnitude earthquake that struck the region on December 26.

"No electronics involved," said John Walters, general manager of Global Marine, one of the firms engaged in the repairs. "It's an old and traditional technique."