An Australian navy ship accidentally blocked wireless internet and radio services across parts of New Zealand on Wednesday morning. The incident occurred as HMAS Canberra, one of the largest ships in the Royal Australian Navy, was en route to Wellington. The ship’s navigation radar interfered with wireless and radio signals over a large area, spanning from Taranaki in the North Island to the Marlborough region in the South Island.
When the radar was detected on the frequency used by many internet providers and radio stations, those operators had to cease using the channel. Disruptions began shortly after 2 am local time, according to a local tech executive. The New Zealand Defence Force contacted its Australian counterpart after the issue was reported.
An ADF spokesperson said, “HMAS Canberra became aware that their navigation radar was interfering with Wi-Fi in the Taranaki to Marlborough region on approach to Wellington. Upon becoming aware, HMAS Canberra changed frequencies, rectifying the interference. There are no ongoing disruptions.”
The New Zealand Defence Force stated that it now considers the incident resolved.
Accidental naval radar disruption
Dan O’Grady, the manager of radio spectrum policy and planning at New Zealand’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, explained that the country’s spectrum management regime allows access to various radio spectrum bands for different purposes, including some that involve sharing. The interference occurred in one of these shared bands.
BrianFM, a radio station based in Blenheim on the South Island, had to switch to a backup system to continue broadcasting. Andrew Jeffries, the station’s founder, told news outlet Stuff, “We like to be reliable and robust, and it certainly took us out and numerous others.
Matthew Harrison, the managing director of Primo, a New Zealand wireless internet and mobile telecommunications company, described the event as unprecedented. He wrote on LinkedIn, “It’s not every day a warship takes your gear offline.
This wasn’t just a blip; it was full-scale, military-grade radar triggering built-in safety protocols designed to protect airspace. It rolled across our network in sync with the ship’s movement. We’ve never seen anything like it here before!” Harrison then joked, “Hey Royal Australian Navy … where can we send the bill?”
This incident highlights the unique challenges and potential disruptions that can arise from military activities, even in civilian areas.
For now, regular service has resumed, and both nations’ defence forces are ensuring such events are avoided in the future.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
