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Egypt now in full Internet blackout

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Jan 2011 9:06 User comments (12)

Egypt now in full Internet blackout

Internet monitoring company Renesys has confirmed this afternoon that Egypt is now in a complete Internet blackout, after small ISP Noor Group went offline, following the path of all of Egypt's major service providers.
The Egyptian government ordered all the ISPs in the nation to disconnect from the Internet four days ago.

Noor was the service provider for many businesses, as well as the country's stock exchange and controlled about 8 percent of the country's Internet connections.

The government's order has come amidst protests and riots in Egypt demanding the end of the Hosni Mubarak regime, and the implementation of a new government "that represents the interests of the Egyptian people." Most believe the Internet cutoff is an attempt by the government to halt the use of social networking sites as a tool for the protesters to organize themselves.

Egyptians can still use mobile phones and landline telephones to communicate.

(Pic via Getty)

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12 user comments

131.1.2011 21:56

I hope their citizens stay mad and don't give up.

Persistence will overcome whatever obstacles they must face.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 31 Jan 2011 @ 9:57

231.1.2011 22:06

We all accept that social media is viral and helpful in organizing people. Wasnt it a few months ago when citizens from a middle eastern country used twitter to rally people? It made headlines.

Dont be surprised when this type of behavior occurs in your country during a crisis of this type.

331.1.2011 22:41

Reminds me of the Chinese Democracy movement; hope it goes in their favor this time.

431.1.2011 23:40

thats terrible i honestly can say im not in favor of anything but a true democracy it should always be the people over goverment and goverment to benifit and support the people with advancement

51.2.2011 01:27

These people are protesting because they have no rights...the internet cutoff is proof enough of their claims as far as I am concerned.

61.2.2011 04:26

Just so everyone knows its knocking on our back door also.
link

71.2.2011 05:19

Mubarak is still clinging to whats left, Mubarak once your country revolts against you , its deemed a downfall or revolution.

Just look at history , Russia Tzar Nicholas

Soon his own army will revolt.

81.2.2011 06:12

Originally posted by 3MUK:
Mubarak is still clinging to whats left, Mubarak once your country revolts against you , its deemed a downfall or revolution.

Just look at history , Russia Tzar Nicholas

Soon his own army will revolt.
His own army is now refusing to follow his orders and they refuse to take actions against ANY protesters. I guess they realize the situation, and they just hope the next tyrant wants a ready-made army to hire.

91.2.2011 08:30

Originally posted by ROMaster2:
Reminds me of the Chinese Democracy movement; hope it goes in their favor this time.
Time for the U.S. to shutdown our internet as Obamy has that control now too. Is he from China? LOL Actually no one knows where he is from.

101.2.2011 11:00

Anyone catch the speech he made when he was with the Chinese dictator? It was downright terrifying. The only thing that keeps Obama from shutting the internet down is the money that his corporate masters are making from the internet. (that may seem like a contradiction, but China is not communist; it is fascist...communists wouldn't make products to sell)

111.2.2011 13:06

Originally posted by KillerBug:
Anyone catch the speech he made when he was with the Chinese dictator? It was downright terrifying. The only thing that keeps Obama from shutting the internet down is the money that his corporate masters are making from the internet. (that may seem like a contradiction, but China is not communist; it is fascist...communists wouldn't make products to sell)
Good point with exception to Communists. They would make products to sell, the difference would be export sales.

122.2.2011 13:05

Internet back ON: (11:29am Cairo time) After 5 days Blackout:

http://blogs.forbes.com/parmyolson/2011/02/02/morning-tech-wrap-egypt-amazon-rim/

Why Egypt's Internet Controls Failed:

http://blogs.forbes.com/andygreenberg/2011/02/02/mubaraks-digital-dilemma-why-egypts-internet-controls-failed/

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 02 Feb 2011 @ 8:34

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