Radio Interference is a phenomenon in Final Fantasy VIII that has made the use of radio waves nearly obsolete by the time of the game's start.

It is a phenomenon beginning with Esthar's silence 17 years before game events. Almost all radio communication facilities were shut down because of noise across all frequencies. However, short transmissions were still possible. At the time it was believed to have some relation to the moon, but details were unknown.

Although most countries in the world of Final Fantasy VIII began to communicate through the use of HD cables running underground, many of these cables are cut off by monsters or due to various skirmishes and battles. Due to this many countries are left without proper of communicating with each other.

StoryEdit

The reason for the interference is in fact sorceress Adel's tomb, which, orbiting the planet, interferes with the radio waves and fills all frequencies with noise. Because of the bothersome noise, most wireless technology was abandoned, and facilities, such as the Communications Tower in Dollet and the TV Station in Timber, fell to disuse. An outdoor TV display in Timber displays the interference, and one can decipher a message from Adel among the noise.

Because radio technology was largely abandoned by the time of the game, making live broadcasts has been significantly more difficult. When Galbadian president Vinzer Deling wants to broadcast Sorceress Edea's ascension as the nation's new ambassador, he is forced to invade the Communications Tower in Dollet in order to make the broadcast, which gets the game's story going. While grainy, the broadcast is a success, until it is interrupted by Seifer Almasy.

Later in the game, Adel's Tomb falls, marking the end of the radio interference, shown immediately after, as Esthar air station contacts Ragnarok via radio waves.