This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22447247
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Syria 'working to repair internet' after blackout | Syria 'working to repair internet' after blackout |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A "fault in optical fibre cables" is to blame for Syria's continued internet blackout, local state-run media said. | A "fault in optical fibre cables" is to blame for Syria's continued internet blackout, local state-run media said. |
| The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the fault would be fixed "as soon as possible". | The Syrian Arab News Agency reported that the fault would be fixed "as soon as possible". |
| However, one key expert told the BBC this explanation was "unlikely". | |
| Web monitoring firms said regular traffic on the internet plummeted to zero just before 19:00 GMT on Tuesday (22:00 local time). | Web monitoring firms said regular traffic on the internet plummeted to zero just before 19:00 GMT on Tuesday (22:00 local time). |
| "Our monitoring shows that Syria's international internet connectivity is through at least four providers, and published submarine cable maps show connectivity through three active cables," said Akamai's David Belson. | |
| "As such, the failure of a single optical cable is unlikely to cause a complete internet outage for the country." | |
| Syria last experienced a shutdown for three days last November - activists say the regime is attempting to "silence" rebel communications. | |
| Immediate drop | Immediate drop |
| The Syrian government blamed that incident on "terrorists", but internet experts said it was more likely that the regime had shut down the web. | The Syrian government blamed that incident on "terrorists", but internet experts said it was more likely that the regime had shut down the web. |
| President Bashar al-Assad's government has been fighting a bloody internal conflict for two years. | President Bashar al-Assad's government has been fighting a bloody internal conflict for two years. |
| Activists suggested at the time of the previous internet shutdown that the regime might have been planning a major offensive, or that it might have been attempting to prevent rebels from using the internet to co-ordinate themselves and communicate with the wider world. | Activists suggested at the time of the previous internet shutdown that the regime might have been planning a major offensive, or that it might have been attempting to prevent rebels from using the internet to co-ordinate themselves and communicate with the wider world. |
| However, neither theory was substantiated. | However, neither theory was substantiated. |
| US web companies, including Renesys and Akamai, logged the latest blackout late on Tuesday. | US web companies, including Renesys and Akamai, logged the latest blackout late on Tuesday. |
| Google, which monitors connections to its network of services, such as YouTube and Gmail, also noted an almost immediate drop on Tuesday. | Google, which monitors connections to its network of services, such as YouTube and Gmail, also noted an almost immediate drop on Tuesday. |
| 'Deliberate attempt to silence' | 'Deliberate attempt to silence' |
| Syrian residents confirmed the blackout, but said mobile phones and landlines were working normally. | Syrian residents confirmed the blackout, but said mobile phones and landlines were working normally. |
| A digital rights campaign group, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said the internet was a vital resource for activists in the country. | A digital rights campaign group, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said the internet was a vital resource for activists in the country. |
| "We're deeply concerned that this blackout is a deliberate attempt to silence Syria's online communications and further draw a curtain over grave events currently unfolding on the ground in Syria," it said in a statement. | "We're deeply concerned that this blackout is a deliberate attempt to silence Syria's online communications and further draw a curtain over grave events currently unfolding on the ground in Syria," it said in a statement. |
| "While heavily censored, monitored and compromised, the internet has served as an important window connecting the world at large to Syria, and one way that international observers could connect with individuals on the ground in that country. | "While heavily censored, monitored and compromised, the internet has served as an important window connecting the world at large to Syria, and one way that international observers could connect with individuals on the ground in that country. |
| "A number of activists on the ground in Syria have access to internet via satellite links, which can connect them to the internet but carries a high risk for detection, which can be life-threatening." | "A number of activists on the ground in Syria have access to internet via satellite links, which can connect them to the internet but carries a high risk for detection, which can be life-threatening." |