One of the largest eruptions of the Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha-apai underwater volcano in the past 30 years occurred on 15 January 2022. The eruption generated tsunami waves rising up to 15 metres, which hit the west coasts of Tongatapu Islands, 'Eua, and Ha'apai Islands. About 84,000 people—more than 80 percent of Tonga’s population—were impacted by the volcano’s eruption.

The eruption caused severe disruption to communications in and from Tonga, as the undersea fibre communications cable connecting Tonga to the world and its own islands was severed in two locations.

From 15 January 2022 to 4 April 2023, the ETC delivered telecommunications emergency response support to the Tongan government. On 4 April 2023, the ETC transitioned service delivery and coordination to the national ETC lead, Tonga's Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC).