Magnitude 6.5 Earthquake Near Bonin Islands; Ogasawara Cable Network Remains Stable
Earthquake off the Bonin Islands
On October 25, 2026, at 04:09:23 local time, an earthquake of magnitude 6.5 occurred in the area of the Bonin Islands, Japan. The epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean near the archipelago, which is approximately 1000 kilometers south of Tokyo. This is a seismically active region where earthquakes occur regularly, making it an important zone for monitoring submarine infrastructure.
Cable network in the area
Within 500 kilometers from the earthquake's epicenter runs the Ogasawara Cable Network. This 1038-kilometer-long submarine cable was put into operation in 2011 and connects Tokyo with Titidzima Island, which is located 267.7 kilometers from the epicenter. The owner of the cable is the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Ogasawara Cable Network is crucial for providing connectivity to remote islands such as Titidzima, giving them access to high-speed internet and other telecommunications services.
Network monitoring data
Our monitoring systems did not detect significant changes in the round-trip time (RTT) or other parameters of the Ogasawara Cable Network. The average delay on the Tokyo-Titidzima segment remains at about 30 milliseconds, which corresponds to normal operating conditions. This indicates that the cable infrastructure demonstrated resilience to seismic activity in the region.
Impact on Global Internet
The resilience of the Ogasawara Cable Network to an earthquake confirms the reliability of submarine telecommunications infrastructure in seismically active regions. This cable provides connectivity for remote islands, and its stable operation is important for local users. In case of cable damage, significant disruptions in internet access and other communication services on the Bonin Islands could have occurred.
In addition, the stability of the Ogasawara Cable Network is significant for the overall resilience of Japan's telecommunications network, which is one of the most heavily loaded in the world. The successful operation of the cable after the earthquake demonstrates the effectiveness of engineering solutions in submarine cables.
Plans for Further Monitoring
We will continue to closely monitor the condition of Ogasawara Cable Network in the coming days to promptly identify any potential delayed effects of seismic activity. Special attention will be paid to any changes in delay parameters and bandwidth capacity. We will also track seismic activity in the region to assess potential risks for other submarine cables in this area.
Long-term monitoring will allow us to timely detect possible threats and minimize risks to telecommunications infrastructure in seismically active areas such as the Bonin Islands.
