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Daily News Egypt
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
How the Ramses Central Fire Disrupted Egypt's Internet, Stock Exchange, and Banking Sectors
In the heart of Egypt's bustling capital, a fire that broke out late on Monday, July 7, at the iconic Ramses Central building quickly turned into a national emergency. The telecommunications hub—originally inaugurated in 1927 by King Fuad I—was engulfed in flames, sending plumes of smoke over downtown Cairo and triggering a ripple effect across the country's most sensitive infrastructure. The fire, which claimed the lives of four individuals and injured 39 others, did not just torch an old building—it paralyzed Egypt's digital backbone. The Ramses Central is a cornerstone of the country's telecommunications network, serving as a major interconnection point for internet, voice, and data services for the nation's top providers, including Vodafone, Orange, WE, and e&. As authorities scrambled to contain the blaze, critical services collapsed one after another—from disrupted mobile and internet access to the unexpected shutdown of the Egyptian Exchange and bank branches halting key operations. Communications Breakdown For hours, millions across Greater Cairo found themselves unable to make calls across different networks, while landline and broadband internet connections slowed to a crawl or dropped entirely. According to NetBlocks, a global internet observatory, national internet connectivity fell to 62% of normal levels at the peak of the crisis. Egypt's Minister of Communications, Amr Talaat, confirmed that services would be restored gradually within 24 hours and assured the public that users would be compensated. Efforts were underway to reroute traffic through alternate exchanges. Markets Hit: Egyptian Exchange Suspends Trading The fallout quickly reached the financial markets. On Tuesday morning, July 8, the Egyptian Exchange (EGX) suspended trading for the day—a highly unusual move prompted by the failure of its electronic systems to display price data and process transactions. 'This was a precautionary measure to ensure market transparency and fairness,' EGX Chairman Ahmed El Sheikh told Asharq Business. He clarified that no internal systems were compromised, but that connectivity issues made operations untenable for the day. Banks in Disarray Banking operations were also impacted. Egypt's two largest state-owned banks, Banque Misr and the National Bank of Egypt, issued apologies for service disruptions—particularly in ATM withdrawals and online banking. In response, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) temporarily increased the daily cash withdrawal limit for individuals and companies from EGP 250,000 to EGP 500,000. It also extended operating hours for several branches until 5:00 PM to accommodate demand. Digital banking was hit especially hard. Online and mobile banking apps experienced outages across Cairo, and many point-of-sale (POS) machines stopped functioning. The popular InstaPay app also faced service interruptions, with users reporting issues on social media. Airports and Media Navigate the Crisis Despite initial concerns, the Ministry of Civil Aviation confirmed that operations at Cairo International Airport resumed without major delays, thanks to quick coordination with telecom authorities. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Media Production City reported that while live broadcasts continued uninterrupted, some live program preparations faced logistical hurdles due to the communications blackout. Why Ramses Central Matters The scale of disruption underscores Ramses Central's crucial role. Strategically located near Ramses Square, the facility processes over 40% of Egypt's domestic and international telecom traffic and houses critical switching equipment for routing calls and data both locally and abroad. It also serves as a primary node in Egypt's fiber optic network, linking government ministries, financial institutions, airports, and broadcasters. Any outage there, even temporary, can send shockwaves through multiple sectors. As of Tuesday evening, cooling efforts at the site were still underway, and investigations into the cause of the fire had begun. The government has cut off power and gas in the area as a safety precaution, while emergency response teams remain on high alert. A Wake-Up Call for Infrastructure Resilience The incident has raised urgent questions about the vulnerability of Egypt's centralized telecom infrastructure. As the country continues to modernize its digital economy, experts say there may be a need for greater decentralization and redundancy in core systems. For now, the priority remains restoring full service and ensuring that affected sectors—particularly banking and communications—can return to stability without long-term damage. Daily News Egypt will continue monitoring developments related to the Ramses Central fire and its economic implications.
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First Post
5 days ago
- General
- First Post
Massive fire at Telecom Egypt building kills 4, injures over two dozen
The large blaze, which broke out at the landmark 10-story Telecom Egypt building and lasted for hours, began in one of the halls on the floor housing telecom operators and spread to other floors due to its intensity, authorities said read more Fire fighters battle flames for the second day after a fire engulfed the main telecom company building in Cairo, Egypt. AP Egyptian officials said Tuesday a fire that engulfed a main telecom company building in downtown Cairo a day earlier left four people dead and over two dozen injured. The large blaze, which broke out at the landmark 10-story Telecom Egypt building and lasted for hours, began in one of the halls on the floor housing telecom operators and spread to other floors due to its intensity, authorities said. The four dead were company employees who had been inside the burning building, according to their workers union. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A total of 27 people had been hospitalized as of Tuesday afternoon, the health ministry said in an update, although some have since been discharged. The ministry confirmed that four bodies were recovered from the site. Some people who suffered smoke inhalation received treatment on site and didn't require emergency transfers to hospitals. They were not included in the figures released by the health ministry. On Tuesday morning, the upper part of the building was charred, and firefighters were still spraying water as smoke billowed from the top floors, though the massive flames had been contained, according to an AP photographer on site. The blaze prompted a temporary outage of internet and mobile phone services. NetBlocks, a global internet monitor, wrote Monday on X that network data show national connectivity was at 62% of ordinary levels. The outage also disrupted air traffic, but the civil aviation ministry said early Tuesday all halted flights have taken off. The Egyptian Stock Exchange halted trading on Tuesday due to widespread disruption impacting the efficiency of the trading system. The minister of communications, Amr Talaat, said in a statement that all communications services will gradually be restored within 24 hours and that they were transferred to more than one switchboard to operate as an alternative network. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
UAE Moments
26-06-2025
- Business
- UAE Moments
Iran Restores Internet After Two-Week Blackout
Iran has started restoring internet access after a near-total blackout that lasted almost two weeks. The restrictions, enforced in the middle of its conflict with Israel, cut off communication for millions and disrupted essential services across the country. Blackout began amid strikes with Israel The blackout was first announced on June 13 by Iranian telecom officials, citing national security concerns. Authorities said the shutdown aimed to prevent alleged cyber misuse by Israel and stop what they called a spread of disinformation. Following the announcement, internet traffic in the country dropped by nearly half and became nearly nonexistent over the next few days, according to global digital watchdog NetBlocks. Public services and daily life affected While internet restrictions aren't new in Iran, this recent disruption hit harder. Access to mobile banking, communication apps, and even emergency information was severely affected. 'The blackout may have bought the government time during military tensions, but it also caused massive frustration,' said a cybersecurity analyst. 'It cut off people from basic services and contact with their loved ones.' Experts say it was also about control Beyond national security concerns, analysts believe the move was also aimed at silencing dissent and controlling the narrative. With no internet, the public had limited access to battlefield updates, social media, or outside news. 'It wasn't just about Israel,' one expert said. 'It was also about suppressing unrest and hiding internal losses.' Starlink enters the conversation Shortly after the blackout began, Elon Musk revealed that Starlink, his satellite internet service, had been activated for Iran. While not officially licensed there, people with the right equipment could potentially bypass restrictions. Cyber tension remains high Even as internet access returns, tensions in cyberspace are still rising. The US has warned of potential Iranian-linked cyberattacks on American networks, especially from groups tied to the Iranian state. GPS disruptions have also been reported, with smartphones in various countries showing wrong time zones or map data—another layer of the digital fallout from the conflict. The bottom line Iran's internet blackout was more than just a security move—it became a national inconvenience, a tool for control, and a trigger for public anger. While access is coming back, the digital scars of the shutdown are likely to linger.
The National
25-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Iran's internet restored: Blackout was 'double-edged sword' that fuelled public frustration, says expert
Iranian authorities say restrictions on internet access are being lifted amid the ceasefire with Israel. 'The communication network is gradually returning to its previous state,' said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' cyber security command in a statement carried by state media. On June 13, telecoms officials in the country announced temporary restrictions to prevent alleged misuse by the Israeli military and stop the apparent spread of disinformation. Shortly afterwards, internet traffic in the country dropped by almost half, and was almost nonexistent in the days the followed, according to NetBlocks, which tracks cyber security and digital governance around the world. Internet disruptions imposed by the government in Iran are not unusual, but some experts say the latest blackout caused more distress than usual because of the back-and-forth strikes between Israel and Iran. 'It was a double-edged sword,' Mohammed Soliman, director of the strategic technologies and cybersecurity programme at the Washington-based Middle East Institute think tank, told The National. 'While it bought the government time during wartime, it also fuels public frustration by disrupting civilian services – banking, communication, daily routines – not to mention access to public safety information and contact with loved ones.' While Iran indicated a major motive for the blackout was to prevent nefarious actions by Israel, Mr Soliman said other factors were at play. 'Iran's internet blackout is a wartime move,' he said. 'It suppresses potential dissent, and obscures battlefield losses.' Shortly after Iran announced the blackout, however, tech tycoon Elon Musk announced that his company, Starlink, had activated services for those in the country with consoles that could access the low-earth-orbit satellite internet connection. Starlink and similar services are not officially available in the country. As a result of air strikes between Iran and Israel, technological paranoia kicked into overdrive on both sides. Attempts to jam global positioning satellite (GPS) systems have been reported, causing smartphones in various countries to show incorrect time zones and map locations. Even while Iran was under the internet blackout, US authorities expressed concern about the potential for cyber attacks originating from the country. 'Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro- Iranian 'hacktivists' are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks on US networks,' a US National Terrorism Advisory bulletin read. Iran is acknowledged in the cyber security community as a major state sponsor of cyber attacks, and the country featured prominently throughout Microsoft's 2024 Digital Defence Report.
Al-Ahram Weekly
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Al-Ahram Weekly
UPDATED: Two dead, at least 300 wounded including 67 critical, as Kenya protests turn violent: Emergency services
Marches in Kenya to mark a year since massive anti-government demos turned violent on Wednesday as protesters engaged in running battles with police, who flooded the streets with tear gas and sealed off government buildings with barbed wire. At least 60 people were killed last year by security forces in weeks of protests over tax rises and the dire economic situation for young Kenyans, peaking when a huge crowd stormed parliament on June 25. Thousands gathered in central Nairobi and other towns on Wednesday, including the families of last year's victims, for initially peaceful anniversary marches. They soon descended into chaos as scattered groups ripped up flagstones to throw projectiles at security forces and chanted for the resignation of President William Ruto. "We are marching against police brutality, against oppression by the government, against high taxation, everything that is going wrong in this country," said Anthony, 25, who was also selling flags and did not want to give his full name. Two people were shot and killed in the town of Matuu, around 100 kilometres (65 miles) from the capital, a hospital official said, with local media reporting that police had fired on protesters. Emergency medics dealt with at least 300 injured people in Nairobi, including 67 in critical condition, an official with a multi-agency response team told AFP. By late afternoon, local media showed huge crowds trying to reach the business district with police holding them off with roadblocks. The government ordered TV and radio stations to halt live coverage of the protests, which gained momentum beyond the capital, including in the port city Mombasa. NetBlocks, a global internet tracker, said social media platform Telegram had been restricted. "We are here as the young generation. We want a complete overhaul of the system, the system is rotten, the system is rogue," said protester Florence Achala in Nairobi. 'Goons' Anger has flared over police brutality, particularly after a teacher was killed in custody earlier this month. A group of peaceful protesters was attacked last week by a gang of motorbike-riding "goons", as they are known in Kenya, armed with whips and clubs and working in tandem with the police. Western embassies in Kenya, including those of Britain, Germany and the United States, criticised in a joint statement "the use of hired 'goons' to infiltrate or disrupt peaceful gatherings". The "goons" were not clearly present on Wednesday but police used large amounts of tear gas and water cannons as they attempted to push back groups of protesters. Analyst and lawyer Javas Bigambo told AFP he was worried political groups would exploit the volatile mood to foster violence. "There is nothing good to celebrate about the events that happened last year," he said. "If we were serious about commemorating June 25th, it should be in solemnity, prayer and restraint." Disillusioned There is deep resentment against Ruto, who came to power in 2022 promising rapid economic progress. Many are disillusioned by continued stagnation, corruption and high taxes, even after last year's protests forced Ruto to cancel the unpopular finance bill. His government has been at pains to avoid direct tax rises this year. But the frequent disappearances of government critics -- rights groups have counted more than 80 since last year's protests, with dozens still missing -- have led many to accuse Ruto of returning Kenya to the dark days of its dictatorship in the 1980s and 1990s. Ruto has previously promised an end to abductions but was unapologetic in a speech on Tuesday, vowing to "stand by" the police. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
