Egypt's Internet Blocking Cost Them $90 Million

[engine]

Egypt's Internet Blocking Cost Them $90 Million [pcworld.com]

The Egyptian government's five-day block of Internet services cost the national economy at least US$90 million, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said Thursday.

The Paris-based organization said telecommunications and Internet services account for between 3 percent and 4 percent of Egypt's GDP, so the daily loss amounted to around US$18 million.

Earlier story

Is Egypt The First County To Attempt a Complete Cutoff From Internet [webmasterworld.com]

It does look like it's rather costly to cut off the internet.

[graeme_p]

That is a huge underestimate because its only the loss to telecoms companies and ISPs. The real loss would be to businesses (and people's lives) disrupted by being unable to communicate.

[Shaddows]

That is a huge underestimate

Exactly. The vast majority of modern business relies on at least telecoms.

Even something basic like a B&M shop might require you to call suppliers. Then theres all the electronic transactions, credit cards etc.

Imagine a world reduced to cash and bartering!

[wheel]

Did they shut off the internet? or just turn off external access?

I shudder at the idea of complete loss of internet access. I'd have to get a real job. But if they cut off external access only, it wouldn't be that bad in the short term. People in my country could still hit my website, I could still sell them product.

[Rugles]

I think 90 million is the least of the ecomonic damage for Egypt.

[piatkow]

Imagine a world reduced to cash and bartering!

I run a print magazine, the only paper that I see is the finished product and the occasional cheque from people who don't use internet banking. Once the net is built into your business processes it is very difficult to go back.

[Shaddows]

[bbc.co.uk...]

$310m per day. That's a much more realistic number