Ramses Exchange Explained

The Ramses Exchange is a telecoms building in central Cairo that is a focal point of the Internet in Egypt. It is situated at 26 Ramses Street.^[1]

Reports related to the 2011 Internet shutdown in Egypt refer to the Ramses Exchange as the location where the shut down was effected by powering down parts of the exchange.^[2] The Ramses Exchange, located near the center of Cairo ^[3] is the main "wire center" for Telecom Egypt, carrying not only municipal telecommunications traffic, but also serving as the main point of entry for international submarine fiber-optic circuits, back-hauled from landing stations near Alexandria.

The Ramses Exchange is also the location of the Cairo Internet Exchange (CAIX).^[4] This IX is provides connections between all the major in-country operators in Egypt^[5] Additionally; it once housed the Cairo Regional Internet Exchange (CRIX),^[6] which once claimed it was the largest Internet exchange in North Africa or the Middle East.^[7]

See also

• Internet in Egypt

30.067°N 31.2617°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: Egypt Leaders Found 'Off' Switch for Internet. New York Times. February 15, 2011. James Glanz and John Markoff. Quote: "The engineers say that a focal point of the attack was an imposing building at 26 Ramses Street in Cairo, just two and a half miles from the epicenter of the protests, Tahrir Square."
2. Web site: Report: Egypt Turned Off the Net With a Big Switch, Not Phone Calls. Ryan Singel. February 10, 2011. Wired.
3. Web site: Google Maps aerial view of the Ramses Exchange.
4. http://www.caix.net.eg/index.php/caix-faq Cairo Internet Exchange FAQ
5. http://www.caix.net.eg/index.php/member-list CAIX Member List
6. Web site: FLAG Telecom announces launch of CR-IX, the new internet exchange in Egypt -collaboration with National Telecom Company establishes new internet exchange for the region. Telecom. FLAG. www.prnewswire.co.uk. 2018-08-13.
7. Web site: Detail view of Cairo Regional Internet Exchange. Packet Clearing House.