The Royal Australian Navy’s flagship vessel HMAS Canberra inadvertently caused widespread internet and radio service disruptions across New Zealand during a diplomatic visit this week, highlighting the unexpected intersection between military technology and civilian infrastructure.
The Department of Defence has confirmed the incident and taken corrective action to prevent further interference.
The disruption occurred early Wednesday morning as the 230-metre warship navigated through Cook Strait en route to Wellington, where the crew was scheduled to participate in celebrations marking the sister city relationship between Canberra and Wellington.
At approximately 2am, the vessel’s powerful navigation radar began interfering with 5GHz wireless access points across both New Zealand’s North and South Islands.
The timing of the incident was particularly unfortunate, as HMAS Canberra represents Australia’s largest naval vessel and was making the journey as part of diplomatic outreach efforts.
The ship’s crew is expected to be welcomed with a parade and concert on Saturday, emphasizing the friendly nature of the visit that was temporarily overshadowed by the technical complications.
Local internet service providers reported that the interference affected critical infrastructure components that serve as bridges between wired and wireless networks, creating cascading effects across multiple regions.
The Taranaki and Marlborough regions experienced the most significant impact from the radar interference.
Safety Protocols Trigger Network Shutdowns
The widespread outages resulted from built-in safety mechanisms designed to protect New Zealand’s airspace from potential interference.
When HMAS Canberra’s navigation radar operated on frequencies that conflicted with civilian wireless systems, automatic switches activated to take affected devices offline as a precautionary measure.
This safety protocol, while disruptive to civilian services, serves an important purpose in preventing wireless signals from interfering with radar systems that monitor New Zealand’s airspace.
The automated response demonstrates the sophisticated nature of modern telecommunications infrastructure and its integration with national security considerations.
The incident was first reported to Radio Spectrum Management, an agency within New Zealand’s business ministry, which initiated a chain of communication through the New Zealand Defence Force to the Australian Defence Force.
Once Australian military officials became aware of the situation, HMAS Canberra immediately changed frequencies, resolving the interference issue.
“On becoming aware, HMAS Canberra changed frequencies rectifying the interference,” confirmed a spokesperson for Australia’s Department of Defence, adding that “there are no ongoing disruptions.”
Infrastructure Vulnerability
According to Report, the incident drew significant attention from New Zealand’s telecommunications industry, with experts noting the unprecedented nature of the disruption.
Matthew Harrison, managing director of New Zealand-based internet service provider Primo, described the event as unlike anything he had previously witnessed in his professional experience.
“This wasn’t just a blip. It was full-scale, military-grade radar triggering built-in safety protocols… and it rolled across our network in sync with the ship’s movement,” Harrison wrote on LinkedIn, adding with characteristic understatement, “It’s not every day a warship takes your gear offline!”
Harrison’s observations extended beyond the immediate incident, highlighting broader concerns about New Zealand’s radio spectrum environment.
He emphasized the vulnerability of rural fixed wireless services, which must share frequency bands with radar systems, creating potential for future conflicts between military and civilian technologies.
The incident serves as an unexpected reminder of the complex interdependencies between military operations and civilian infrastructure in an increasingly connected world.
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