Ethiopia shuts down internet ahead of exams

Ethiopian telecommunications company Ethio Telecom, owned by the state has blocked the mobile internet. The blackout started on Tuesday, 30 May ahead of a scheduled national examination that was due to take place in the country on Wednesday.

It is unclear whether both mobile and fixed internet connections were blocked, but the majority of Ethiopians who do use the internet do so on mobile devices. The shutdown affected many, leaving those with alternative connections such as satellite communication.

This is not the first time the country experiences an internet shutdown to prevent exam paper leakage, in 2016 social media networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and Viber were blocked after university entrance exam questions were posted online.

According to a report by Newsweek, internet shutdown is costing the country millions. Between June 2015 and June 2016, the internet has been shut down for 30 days costing the economy $8.6 million.

Staff Writer