Fourth Undersea Cable Cut, Stoking Suspicions of Intent
A fourth undersea cable that carries Internet connectivity to and from the Middle East has been cut, according to various reports. The previous three cuts caused major disruptions to Internet service in the region and in some cases led to complete Internet blackouts.
This latest cable is operated by Qatar Telecom, and the disruption affected mainly that part of the United Arab Emirates, the federation of seven states situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula. While this latest cut didn't cause a complete disruption of service to Qatar, the prior cable failures caused major Internet blackouts in several Arab states in the Persian Gulf region.
According to reports, the latest disruption was caused by a power failure and not by a ship's anchor slicing the physical cable, as has been suspected in the other three major disruptions. These same reports hint at the suspicion that the cuts have been intentional but, so far, there has been no confirmed report that these disruptions are the result of an organized effort.
From Engadget.
Related links:
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
frank s. triana @ Feb 5th 2008 4:10PM
The internet keeps people informed. Iranians, Syrians, Iraqi's, Palestinians, etc can get a feel that the west isn't all that bad. Who doesn't want that. Turmoil and ignorance breeds conflict and thus higher oil prices, which is good for oil companies.
edawg @ Feb 5th 2008 5:43PM
This is a cyber attack probally by Teheran to weaken their rivals economic and information base
Senile Citizen @ Feb 5th 2008 6:59PM
Just make sure that the only internet available to them is AOL, that will set them back to the stone age.
Mike Sanders @ Feb 5th 2008 7:09PM
If you must use IP-telephony, use EDS-NET. Bypass the bottlenecks and tie into "the bone." As far as I know, EDS is still handling traffic to their customers, in the Mideast (and the midwest, too!). :-)
Pam @ Feb 5th 2008 8:05PM
Oh please. How stupid do you think we really are? Ship's anchors? Power failures? This is laughable. Somebody is cutting them. It's just that simple.
Ricky P @ Feb 5th 2008 11:19PM
Good! They were most likely informants and coconspiritors to the AlQuaida movement! Keep it cut!
Ricky P @ Feb 5th 2008 11:21PM
Even Better Yet! Program all Satelites to disconnect all links to Iraq other than those used by the U.S.Military! Let them all stay in the dark till we're done over there!
Daniel Gaunt @ Feb 6th 2008 5:32AM
some comments show a complete lack of understanding of foreign policy. The extremist groups in the middle east would be happy to see the internet down, just like red neck bible bashers would be. The reasons behind these cuts are more likely economical than political. alot of banks have staff in the middle east...
http://freeextras.blogspot.com/
http://lifeorsomethingnotquitelikeit.blogspot.com/
Abe Lestz @ Feb 6th 2008 9:36AM
I won't be surprised if the cable co. is doing it to increase the internet price
Mike Sanders @ Feb 6th 2008 10:13AM
Connectivity is good... When people are "flying blind," they become a danger to everyone, including themselves.
Remember Samson? They cut his hair ('his strength'), tied him up and put out his eyes. God gave him his strength back, for the finale... 5,000 Phillistines and Samson, himself, died that day.
Billy @ Feb 6th 2008 10:22AM
Hey Frank s.
The oil companys pay the higher prices and then pass them on to the consumer. Get it?
michael @ Feb 6th 2008 10:25AM
the liberal owned news reports will report this there way,like everything else.leading you by the nose every day.you know like communist countries.they inform you there way.
Rick @ Feb 6th 2008 10:34AM
Keeping the internet up in those regions is more important that keeping it down. While it is used by a small percentage of extremists, it caters to a much larger number of individuals that want to emulate the west.
Besides, do you know how much business is done over those lines by the US Corporation (yes, I did capitalize it like it's an entity)? They would never allow a little extremism to get in the way of their $$ making.
Samsun @ Feb 6th 2008 10:44AM
It is funny, how Iran will get benefited from reducing there own connectivity. It is also hard to believe that ship anchors disconnected undersea cables in 3 places in less than a weak, all in Asian region only.
A more logical reason would be, the cut is done by NSA so that they can tap in to fiber cables while they are shut down due to damage and repair. Read this article http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9595_22-529826.html and you will see that they are doing it for sometime... and no surprise
Janis Winchester @ Feb 6th 2008 11:03AM
Come on people when the cables started breaking didn't you think they were being cut? The middle East wants their people back in the dark ages. It's easier to control them. Ignorence is easier to with than intellence.
DAN @ Feb 6th 2008 12:01PM
MUST BE A COST PLUS PROJECT JUST TO KEEP THE MONEY TRAIN GOING
Joshua @ Feb 8th 2008 1:31PM
Frank, I think you just answered your own question. Who doesn't want that well try religious fundamentalist!