Libya’s highly centralized telecoms network remains in Gaddafi’s grip at the country’s western front. And the Colonel has promptly shutdown both the mobile networks (State-owned Almadar and Libyana) across the rebel-held eastern front. He also jammed the satellite-phone signals, which equally impacted the rebels, the international media and the humanitarian workers. NATO bombings have evidently impaired the jamming. Yet the prohibitive satellite phones cannot replace the mobile phones.
Therefore, the rebels have decided to deploy their own mobile phone network called ‘Free Libyana’. It is the idea of Mr. Ousama Abushagur, a Libyan raised in Alabama, USA and working in UAE. Etisalat has supplied the hardware to Free Libyana after the Chinese vendor Huawei rejected Mr. Abushagur’s approach. An unnamed Libyan businessman based in the UAE has financed the project.
The network was rolled out by three Libyans and four Western engineers. They flew to Egypt before crossing the border and commencing work in the rebel-held capital Benghazi. The rebels were reportedly aided by Benghazi-based employees of Libyana, the country’s largest mobile phone operator by subscribers. According to Mr. Abushagur the new network launched on April 2, and currently has 750,000 active SIM cards in operation. Although the network is widely available, international calling is limited to few senior rebel leaders. Satellite seems to be serving the international backhaul. The Wall Street Journal reports.
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