Egypt suffers a loss of USD 90 mln owing to internet blockage -Governance Now

Egypt suffers a loss of USD 90 mln owing to internet blockage

Blocked services account for loss of 3-4 per cent of GDP per day

PTI | February 5, 2011

Egypt has suffered a loss of USD 90 million due to blockage of internet and telecommunication services during the ongoing political unrest, a top economic body said today.

"The Egyptian government's blocking of internet services for five days is likely to have cost the country USD 90 million," the OECD said, quoting preliminary estimates of a study conducted by the Paris-based Science, Technology and Industry division of the top world economic body.

"The blocked services (telecommunication and Internet) account for roughly 3-4 per cent of GDP or a loss of USD 18 million per day," it said.

The OECD also warned that the long-term impact of the disruption in services could be greater as it (government) has cut off domestic and international high-tech firms who provide services globally and will make it much more difficult in the future to attract foreign companies and assure them that the networks will remain reliable.

To date, attracting such firms has been a key strategy of the government, it said in a statement.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is the apex world body to promote and formulate economic policies across the world and has about 34 major economies as its member.

Comments

Other News

How the mind can help the body heal itself

Why do some people recover from illness against all odds? Can our beliefs, emotions and consciousness influence the body’s ability to heal? Drawing on over three decades of experience in medicine, research and medical innovation, internationally trained ophthalmologist and author Dr Dinesh Verma ex

1,364 anti-cancer formulations to cost less from today

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 137 anti-cancer drugs. This was based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constitute

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.