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Middle East Eye
a day ago
- Politics
- Middle East Eye
How Ramses telecom centre fire exposed Egypt's digital vulnerability
A blaze at Cairo's vital Ramses Exchange crippled telecom, banking and transport systems across Egypt, exposing how years of centralisation and opaque governance have left the country's digital backbone critically exposed. On Monday, 7 July, at around 4pm Cairo local time (2pm GMT), a fire broke out on the upper floors of Ramses data centre in downtown Cairo - a building underpinning much of Egypt's digital connectivity. Minutes later, mobile networks went down. Internet connectivity in at least 20 of Egypt's 27 provinces vanished or became almost inaccessible. Banking apps and payment terminals ceased to function. Emergency hotlines and flight operations were disrupted. For hours, the digital infrastructure of the Arab world's most populous nation malfunctioned. The following day, the government announced that the facility had gone out of service. The fire killed four employees inside the building and injured at least 27 others, including firefighters. The deaths and ensuing chaos reignited scrutiny of safety standards at critical sites. On Thursday evening, just after firefighters had extinguished the blaze, a smaller fire reignited on the upper floor, catching everyone by surprise. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters In the aftermath of the incident, Communications and Information Technology Minister Amr Talaat claimed that emergency services were unaffected. But the fact-checking platform Saheeh Masr proved otherwise: ambulance, police and fire hotlines were all down in multiple provinces. Meanwhile, life in the capital - as well as in Giza, Alexandria and other major provinces - came to a standstill until later the next day. The financial technology sector took a heavy blow. Mobile payment platforms collapsed, ATMs froze and card machines in shops stopped working. The National Bank of Egypt and Banque Misr issued official apologies to their clients. People watch as firefighters extinguish a blaze at the telephone exchange and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology building in central Cairo on 7 July 2025 (AFP) Thousands of Egyptians without enough cash on hand could not fuel their vehicles, pay at restaurants, or use ride-hailing apps. Others were unable to withdraw money from ATMs or transfer funds. Even parents trying to contact their children in day care were cut off. Later that evening and into the night, the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that airport systems had been disrupted, resulting in delays to 69 flights. Egypt's stock exchange suspended trading the following day. Middle East Eye spoke with experts and technology activists who shed light on the scale of the crisis, but requested anonymity due to safety concerns. 'This was not just a glitch. It was a national crisis,' said one communications security expert. 'A single strike on one building paralysed a nation's infrastructure.' Answers demanded As with many fires over the past decades, even before an investigation was launched - and while firefighters were still battling the blaze - officials were quick to pin the incident on 'an electrical short circuit'. However, the fallout quickly reached the lower house of parliament, where lawmakers called for accountability. MP Maha Abdel Nasser described the incident as a 'technological stroke' that froze public services. She filed an urgent inquiry with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, warning of 'immense damage' to governance and public trust. Another MP, Freddy Elbaiady, submitted a similar inquiry, but was ironically unable to send it electronically as the parliament's portal was down. 'This is not about a fire,' he told local media outlets. 'It's about a national system built around one outdated switchboard.' The Ramses facility is not an ordinary node. Built in 1927 under King Fuad I, it originally served as the national hub for telegraph exchange and telephone services. Over time, the centre evolved into Egypt's communications hub, now hosting the Cairo Internet Exchange, inter-operator routing systems and submarine cable landings that connect the country to the global web. 'This is not about a fire. It's about a national system built around one outdated switchboard' - Freddy Elbaiady, MP Despite the communications ministry's claim that Ramses is not the sole hub, metrics suggest otherwise. A public update on X confirmed that network data show national connectivity in Egypt at 62 percent of ordinary levels amid the fire. Masaar, a technology rights foundation, published a research paper on the day following the fire, concluding that the outage seemed immediate and impacted several internet service providers simultaneously - evidence of the Ramses centre's pivotal role in routing internet traffic across the country. The Cairo-based foundation confirmed Egypt's over-reliance on a centralised and outdated telecom infrastructure, where a single incident can trigger sweeping nationwide disruption. Masaar further warned that unless serious investment is made to modernise and diversify the country's digital infrastructure, future disruptions - whether caused by natural disasters, technical failure or cyber-attacks - will remain a real and recurring threat to both state institutions and daily life. 'It is the heart of the whole system. If it stops beating, the body collapses,' a former engineer at the state-owned operator, Telecom Egypt (rebranded as WE), told MEE. Foreseeable outcome Though the fire's cause may have been accidental, telecom analysts argue that the outcome was foreseeable. Experts say basic safeguards - such as failover routes, decentralised data centres and automated recovery protocols - were either missing or ineffective. 'This was a preventable collapse,' said a Cairo-based telecom consultant. 'No critical facility should be a 'single point of failure'. Egypt's billions in digital transformation mean nothing without redundancy.' Technically, a single point of failure is a component that, if it fails, brings down the entire system. It is a critical flaw when no backups or contingency systems are in place. For decades, Egypt's government has been known for tightening its grip on communications services. During the January 2011 uprising, Ramses Exchange reportedly served as the command post for communications blackout and surveillance on activists reportedly ordered by security agencies. In the early hours of 28 January, dubbed 'the Friday of Fury', Egypt's mobile networks and internet services were entirely cut off. Data routing was pulled from global gateways, as later confirmed by organisations such as the OpenNet Initiative. Although Egypt's telecom sector has been officially liberalised, it remains tightly state-controlled. 'This was a preventable collapse' - Telecom consultant 'Telecom Egypt, which is majority-owned by the state, dominates fixed-line infrastructure and leases the backbone to other operators,' an independent telecom consultant said. 'The National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA), which is meant to be independent, is structurally tied to the incumbent ministry,' he added. The World Bank's 2020 Digital Economy Report highlighted this clash of interests, noting: 'The NTRA's dual role as regulator and policy executor creates a high risk of bias… in favour of Telecom Egypt.' The communications minister confirmed in press statements that 'all services have been transferred to alternative centres', but critics argue this confirms that services were centralised at Ramses before the fire. By Wednesday, services had been gradually restored within two days after the incident, but trust remains damaged. Lawmakers have called for transparency amid calls for telecom reform, while the government continues to insist it was an isolated event. Amid such demands, no senior official has accepted responsibility to date. The government has yet to issue a damage assessment or announce a mitigation plan. 'Millions in lost transactions, stock market halts and offline commerce - that's the fallout,' a digital rights advocate argued 'But without transparency, we'll never know the true impact.'
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Science
- Egypt Independent
Could AI have prevented the Ramses telecommunications building fire?
The concept of a machine predicting an event or disaster, like that of fire which devastated the Ramses telecommunications building or even some natural disasters, might sound like something out of science fiction. Yet its is now a serious topic of discussion- What if AI systems were applied to Egypt's critical infrastructure? Could they have predicted the danger before flames engulfed the network's heart? How exactly could AI predict or prevent disasters such as the Ramses telecommunications building fire? This concept of 'crisis prediction' might seem like a distant technological luxury. In reality it could be a magic solution if properly applied, through using the latest technologies to predict risks before they escalate into catastrophes. During the Ramses Exchange fire, which crippled a vital part of the communications sector, there was no early warning system, no alert to enable responsible authorities to act before the flames spread. This is precisely where AI could play a major role. AI and disaster prediction 'AI doesn't see the future, but it calculates its probabilities,' says AI expert Marco Mamdouh. He explained that while AI cannot literally predict the future, it relies using probability to analyze data and forecast potential scenarios. Mamdouh explained that probability is taught as a fundamental branch within AI sciences. If an AI system is fed accurate data about a building—its structural condition, equipment, and safety systems—it can analyze this information to conclude, for instance, that the building can withstand a limited fire but would be vulnerable to collapse or severe damage if a large-scale blaze erupted. How does this actually work? According to Mamdouh, AI can play a crucial proactive role by: Analyzing structural weaknesses in vital buildings and facilities, providing a regular assessments of risk levels. in vital buildings and facilities, providing a regular assessments of risk levels. Proposing crisis scenarios based on historical data from similar fires: duration, intensity, spread, and damage. based on historical data from similar fires: duration, intensity, spread, and damage. Generating immediate automated solutions to confront the crisis, including evacuation options, strengthening protection measures, and prioritizing response actions. From prediction to loss mitigation: Is the world implementing these measures? 'If equipped with sufficient data, AI can tell you whether a building can withstand specific thermal stress,' he added. 'Will the electrical system hold up in the event of a short circuit? Is there a need to update alarm systems or install additional sensors? AI answers all these questions before we're surprised by a crisis.' He concluded by stating that AI isn't merely an analytical tool; it can serve as a strategic partner in decision-making. When a disaster strikes, rapid decision-making and prioritizing actions become crucial. In these scenarios, smart systems can suggest the fastest ways to gain control, or even automatically shut down systems to minimize damage, much like what occurs in smart factories. Global precedent: AI in action to prevent fires South Korea stands as a real example of this concept's application, having launched AI-powered projects that analyze data from thousands of buildings and classify them by a 'fire risk index.' Rapid response systems were then built for structures highest on the risk list. In the US, municipalities like Atlanta developed AI-driven systems to identify which buildings required immediate inspection, contributing to a significant reduction in the number of fires within just one year. A 2024 study published in the Fire scientific journal showcased researchers developing an advanced model for fire risk prediction using machine learning algorithms based on the Stacking Ensemble method. The model analyzed 34 variables, including building age, type, materials used, and population density in the area, successfully classifying buildings by risk levels. Remarkably, only 22 percent of the buildings in the highest risk category accounted for 54 percent of the fires actually recorded during the study period, demonstrating the model's accuracy and its ability to provide a realistic map of buildings prone to fire hazards.
Egypt Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
Egyptian PM apologizes for recent fatal road accidents amid public anger
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has apologized to the public following the string of fatal traffic accidents in recent weeks and the ensuing public outrage over road conditions. 'As a government, we deeply regret some of the accidents that have occurred in recent days. We are not arrogant; we admit it, and we want what's best,' Madbouly stated during a press conference on Wednesday. There are external forces that have an interest in 'attacking the Egyptian state and spreading despair and frustration among citizens, hoping for the state's internal collapse,' he noted. Madbouly added that these parties are aware of Egypt's ability to confront any external threat, 'Which is why they try to weaken the state from within and make citizens lose confidence in the state's administrative capabilities,' he asserted. 'Some countries do not allow anyone to portray a negative image and take aggressive measures against anyone who presents a negative scene of the state.' Madbouly also highlighted the significant development and change the country has witnessed in many sectors. He continued, 'I am not saying no to criticism, because that is a full right of the Egyptian citizen. But what is the general image we want to project to the outside world?' Last month, two major accidents on the Regional Ring Road resulted in 28 deaths and numerous injuries. Additionally, the main Ramses Exchange building in Cairo caught fire, disrupting communications services. These incidents on the Regional Ring Road prompted the government to close the road, which is currently undergoing repairs. Police have also intensified road surveillance to prevent traffic violations and are conducting drug tests for drivers.
Egypt Independent
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Egypt Independent
media host questions cause of recent fires across Egypt
The massive fire at the Ramses Exchange building in downtown Cairo has highlighted several other simultaneous fires in Egypt, prompting some to warn against a 'conspiracy' targeting the country, RT reported. Media personality and parliamentarian Mostafa Bakry commented on these incidents, wondering, 'Is all this coincidence? Why now? This is just a question, and we await the answer, as it will reveal what is happening and its purpose.' During his show 'Haqa'ek wa Asrar' (Facts and Secrets) on the privately-owned Sada al-Balad channel on Friday, Bakry warned that a war has begun against Egypt and against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi,' referring to attempts to 'increase internal tension and undermine national unity.' Massive fires cripple communications A massive fire broke out on Monday evening which lasted nearly 20 hours at the Ramses telephone exchange building in Cairo, one of the largest communications centers in Egypt. The fire led to a partial interruption of internet, landline, and telephone services, and disrupted financial services such as ATMs and electronic payment. Flight services and banking transactions were also impacted. The fire once again erupted on Friday evening in the back building of the exchange, but Civil Defense was able to quickly control the blaze, which was sparked by 'heat spots' remaining from the initial fire. Several other fires, some large, broke out on Friday in several areas in Giza, Alexandria, and Cairo. A massive blaze engulfed a detergent factory in Badr City. In Alexandria, a fire broke out at a famous hotel on the Corniche Road. A major fire broke out at the Dubai Mall in Sheikh Zayed City, Giza Governorate, reducing the building to ashes. A venomous plot? Bakry also noted that security and agricultural authorities foiled a 'sabotage plot' last week, which involved an attempted smuggling of rare, dangerous and highly venomous animals through the Cairo Airport. 'Forty scorpions from the forests of Vietnam, known for their high toxicity and rapid reproduction, were seized, as were five yellow scorpions from Brazil, one of the most dangerous venomous species, and giant snakes, including the spitting cobra, which poses a threat to wildlife and pets,' he said. He continued, questioning, 'Why did the foreigner bring them with him, and what was the purpose of placing them in a specific location?!'
New York Times
11-07-2025
- New York Times
Cairo Telecommunications Building Hit With 2nd Fire in a Week
A fire broke out at one of Egypt's main telecommunications hubs on Thursday evening, according to state news media, days after a blaze there killed four people and disrupted internet, transport and banking services. The fire on Thursday in central Cairo at a building known as the Ramses Exchange was much smaller than the one on Monday and was quickly extinguished, the media company Al Ahram reported, citing local authorities. There was no official information about the cause of either fire. Egyptian prosecutors said they had launched an investigation. The telecommunications exchange is run by state-owned Telecom Egypt and is one of many handling phone and internet services. Officials said that services had largely been restored, but some Egyptians still complained on Friday of patchy internet connections, especially in the area near the Ramses Exchange. The earlier blaze killed at least four people and injured at least two dozen others, according to the local government. Internet connectivity dropped to about 40 percent of normal levels, according to NetBlocks, a group that tracks internet outages. The fire also disrupted the stock exchange and banking sectors and delayed flights, according to local news reports, with some Egyptians posting photos on social media of air travelers using handwritten boarding passes. Customers were unable to buy train tickets for nearly two days in parts of the country, according to local media. The stock exchange reopened on Wednesday. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited the exchange on Wednesday and said the government would produce a recovery plan to ensure that the building returned to full operation as soon as possible, the Egyptian cabinet said in a statement. The fire on Monday started on a floor that houses equipment run by telecommunications operators, the nation's Ministry of Communications said in a statement. Despite the presence of fire suppression equipment, the blaze quickly spread to other floors, it said.
