Fax machines, ham radio and dial-up modems are helping to avoid the net block imposed on Egypt.
On 27 January, Egypt fell off the internet as virtually all international connections were cut following an order from the government.
But older technologies proved their worth as net activists and protesters used them to get round the block.
Protesters are also circulating information about how to avoid communication controls inside Egypt.
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How Egypt is getting online Egypt remains officially offline following the government’s mass internet disconnection last week, but savvy citizens assisted by groups of online activists are still using a number of methods to access the web.
On Thursday night the Egyptian government instructed the country’s ISPs to cut off their connections to the outside world. Only one network, the Noor Group, remained online - it’s suspected Noor was spared because it runs services for the Egyptian stock exchange. www.newscientist.com/blogs/onepercent/2011/01/egypt-remains-officially-offli.html
Egyptians Turn to Phone Dial-Up Service to Get Around Internet Shutdown Egypt, following days of anti-government protests, “withdrew” from the Internet after Egyptian authorities shut connections to the outside world, and Vodafone Group Plc said it was ordered to suspend mobile-phone services in selected areas. Bloomberg’s Emily Chang reports. (Source: Bloomberg)
At least 30 different dial-up services are being offered to the Egyptian people to circumvent the shutdown, according to Paris-based French Data Network, a group founded in 1992 to make data accessible. The group opened up one such “small window” on the Internet network to help Egyptians access the Web. www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-31/egyptians-turn-to-dial-up-service-to-get-around-government-s-web-shutdown.html
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