Algeria Internet Not Shut Down, According To Renesys Analysis

When the Egyptian government decided to flip the switch on its country's Internet on Jan. 27, news of the unprecedented shut down spread rapidly.

Rumors that the same thing has happened today in Algeria are unfounded, even though the country has been on the radar for a possible "domino effect" of events in Tunisia and Egypt.

Internet intelligence authority Renesys, which confirmed the Egypt outage weeks ago, says in a new blog post that it has no evidence that Algeria's Internet has been shut down.

Renesys writes:

Algeria typically has about 135 routed network prefixes in the global routing table, and our data show that they are all still routed and relatively stable. Traceroutes inbound confirm that sites hosted in these prefixes are still alive, and spot checks of websites hosted in Algeria show that most are up and functioning normally.

It's possible, according to Renesys, that there are some Internet blocks not visible to outside the country, similar to Iranian-style throttling, but that can not be confirmed at this time.

The Telegraph first reported that Algeria shut down the Internet and Facebook today in response to mounting protests. Social media website Mashable also picked up the report and led with it on its front page Saturday evening.

The Telegraph article wrote, "Internet providers were shut down and Facebook accounts deleted across Algeria on Saturday as thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators were arrested in violent street demonstrations."

Comments

[GorgyPorgy]

09:39 PM on 02/13/2011

Obama said he wants to have the authority to regulate, or shut the Internet down.

[AmigaMan]

10:43 PM on 02/13/2011

That is truly scary IMO.

[Cabo600]

12:36 PM on 02/13/2011

Algeria internet not shut down....yet.

[nirek]

11:01 AM on 02/13/2011

Is this an epidemic of democracy happening before our eyes?
It seems to me that these poorer countries see what we enjoy and want to have the same freedoms we have. Thanks to the internet people all over the world can see what freedom is like.

This is why I think we would be better served by getting out of these countries and let them find their way without interference from us.

[Alaya Leanourey]

11:01 AM on 02/13/2011

My concern is that there is a lot of Al-Qaida activity going on in Algeria right now, also. We are seeing the media posts about the fight for Democracy, and few posts about their recent activity.
The largest all women's even in the world, The Rallye Aicha des Gazelles Off Road Rally Race, is to be ran in March in Morocco, on the Algerian Border the majority of the race. I pray none of those women get hurt. The US has 3 teams going this year, well known women racers on one team, widely followed journalist's on another, and an amateur team of sisters. in another truck. I think they should cancel and reschedule the race until things settle down. They have some protection from the Moroccan army, but not enough. They are still out there by themselves and not allowed to follow other vehicles or have GPS.They have to navigate by compass, rulers and maps.
Does anyone else feel this could be an issue? I know one of the women. Maybe my worry wart tendencies are in overdrive because of it. I only know what I read.

[UnknownSolider]

10:00 AM on 02/13/2011

the funny thing is how the politicians in this country seem to have some issues with Net Neutrality.......... you see in America we don't have to worry about the gov't shutting down the internet, the Corporations are begging for the opportunity to do it for them

[one1byke]

09:12 AM on 02/13/2011

Algeria! come on..... PUSH!!!!

Liberia, you watching!?

[pjean]

08:36 AM on 02/13/2011

I'm sure that's how the Palestinians feel and soon they too will get what they've been fighting for. What the people of Egyt did by standing together peacefully to throw out the opressor was awesome. The people stood strong and united with such great numbers, they were not going to be defeated. This is what those who choose to b.low themselves up should do instead of killing themselves and others. I hope and pray that the Palestinians come to the realization that the only way to win is to stand together as those in Egypt did. kudos to the people of Egypt for showing such strenght and loyoalty to their cause and doing it in sucha way that won many of our hearts over the world.

[Jaxy]

07:10 AM on 02/13/2011

It would be great to see some responsible, caring leadership for the people of Algeria.

I remember living in West Africa during the 1980's and reading all the horror stories of religious extremism, widespread murders and governmental oppression sweeping across that nation ... and I'm talking about events such as the merciless throat-slitting of women and children. Absolutely obscene.

[roshni]

02:58 PM on 02/13/2011

Yes, I was in Morocco not too long ago and heard about all this. We were camping in the Sahara close to the border and were very careful not to get too close to Algeria.

[Jaxy]

07:18 PM on 02/13/2011

Hi, roshni. As a Maryland resident, I actually feel the same way about VA! Lol.

[lindayb]

06:28 AM on 02/13/2011

"freedom's just another word for nothin left to lose..." a whole bunch of people finally feel like they have nothing left to lose by confronting those who have their knees on their necks-go get 'em.

[nirek]

11:04 AM on 02/13/2011

So many of those old songs are appropriate , thanks for yours.

[ajuz]

03:05 AM on 02/13/2011

i like this, good article...
so and you refresh go to Live Streaming Sport

[gratefulhead]

02:54 AM on 02/13/2011

This comment to be censored by the new regime: iItwas all a misunderstanding. The Telegraph reporter heard most Algerians had AOL, and assumed that meant they couldn't get on the Internet. AOL Algeria On Line. :)

[Gitmo]

02:46 AM on 02/13/2011

This is going to be interesting...

[49 ForEverYoung]

01:48 AM on 02/13/2011

The Arab leaders through much of the century, have likened themselves to the Emirs of the Caliphate. We are now witnessing the dying of that yellow light.

[timhere]

01:22 AM on 02/13/2011

I remember when i was in the Navy, in 1989 my ship the U.S.S. Ainsworth pulled into Algiers, Algeria, the first us ship to hit the port in almost 30 years. I remember standing watch as a lowly seaman at the end of the gangway(the walkway from the ship to the pier). My job was to search bags but not actually allowed to search bags before people were allowed onto the ship. I was unarmed but there were armed men on the ship. I remember standing their thinking as an 18 year old that i am just here to be the first one to get shot as to allow the ship to open fire and to this day i still beleive that to have been my purpose. I did get to go on liberty and visited the casbah and such and i remember the people to be extremely open and kind to us. Often the people of the arab world are portrayed as hostile but when u go among them u find them to just be people wanting the same thing as all of us. There are always those who hate and that is no different here than there but for most people they are just searching for a meaningful existence in which they can take care of thier family and provide a better life for them.

[Rosewren]

02:49 AM on 02/13/2011

F&F You are expressing truth here. Everyone just wants an opportunity and peaceful circumstances to take care of themselves and their families. It is the money interests that want the violence and chaos as they can profit from it. It has always been that way. When the masses finally really realize their ability to change their world through their lack of cooperation with these entities of violence and war they will have achieved the true power of humanity. One human to another.

[Happyexpat]

04:06 AM on 02/13/2011

I love your comment. Faved.