Vodafone accuses Cairo of co-opting network (for propaganda purposes)

[Turborama]

Source: Reuters Via Haaretz

The international mobile operator Vodafone yesterday accused the Egyptian authorities of using its network to send pro-government text messages to subscribers. The complaint is an escalation of the involvement of Egypt’s telecommunications providers in the escalating crisis. Another mobile boss, the chief executive of Orascom Telecom , protested against President Hosni Mubarak’s rule in the main Cairo square yesterday and said any damage to his company arising the unrest was a price worth paying.

Vodafone, the world’s biggest mobile operator by revenue, was told by the government last week to switch off its network in Egypt after the anti-Mubarak protests broke out. Other operators were also forced to cut their service, and rights groups have heavily criticized the development.

Vodafone said at the time that it had no choice and yesterday it stepped up its attack, saying it was being forced to send text messages without making clear the attribution. “The current situation regarding these messages is unacceptable,” it said. Vodafone said the Egyptian authorities had instructed the mobile networks of Mobinil, Etisalat and Vodafone to send messages to the people of Egypt and had been doing so since the protests broke out against President Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule.

One text message sent on February 2, seen by Reuters, announced the location and timing for a mass demonstration to support Mubarak.

Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/business/vodafone-accuses-cairo-of-co-opting-network-1.341170

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[EFerrari]

1. Al Arabiya ran a statement from them that was very choked off.

They said, "we aren't in control of SMS in Egypt" and left it at that.

Scary time to be a network in Egypt.

[suffragette]

2. Example of that from Guardian blog

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=328209&mesg_id=335880