Author Topic: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet? (Read 2665 times)

Clive · « **on:** January 31, 2011, 14:12 »

As protesters take to the streets in Egypt, the government has reportedly shut down the Internet. How does that work? Does Egypt's Internet have an on/off switch?

http://www.slate.com/id/2283000/

sam · « **Reply #1 on:** January 31, 2011, 14:45 »

quite simply when you don't have the mess that we do.

Rik · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2011, 17:06 »

What mess were you thinking of, Sam?

sam · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2011, 18:35 »

lots of isps.

sam · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2011, 18:35 »

though I guess for hard wired, its just a few cables..

Baz · « **Reply #5 on:** January 31, 2011, 18:37 »

do BT have networks there

Rik · « **Reply #6 on:** January 31, 2011, 18:41 »

Quote from: sam on January 31, 2011, 18:35

lots of isps.

But the majority of them use BT Wholesale products, Sam, while the others use just 2 or 3 other carriers. The carriers would be the ones to cut off the service, and we know they can do it in the case of BT, as they managed to for IDNet in October.

sam · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2011, 19:55 »

true, but don't we also have more pipes in and out of the UK than egypt?

http://image.guardian.co.uk/sys-images/Technology/Pix/pictures/2008/02/01/SeaCableHi.jpg

Rik · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2011, 11:29 »

We do, Sam, but afaik, they're controlled by just a few companies. Those companies only need to turn the fibre to their clients off to shut the system down, users then wouldn't be able to reach the net at all.

sam · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2011, 15:27 »

I bet there are more satellite users around the place too though

Rik · « **Reply #10 on:** February 01, 2011, 16:00 »

Not that many, Sam, satellite is still very expensive so tends to be a supplier of last resort.

sam · « **Reply #11 on:** February 01, 2011, 16:28 »

true, but I bet we would be better placed to get around a blockade than Egypt

Simon · « **Reply #12 on:** February 01, 2011, 16:38 »

One would hope that we never have to find out.

Author Topic: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet? (Read 2665 times)

Clive

How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

sam

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

Rik

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

sam

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

sam

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Baz

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Rik

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

sam

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

Rik

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

sam

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

Rik

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

sam

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?

Simon

Re: How did the Egyptian government turn off the Internet?