Chinese firm keeps Syria online

NEW YORK - The Associated Press

A firm that tracks the pathways of the Internet says a Chinese company is keeping war-torn Syria connected to the Internet as other telecommunications companies including that of Turey withdraw.

The Syrian government ultimately controls Internet connection to the outside world but it’s a major route for rebel communications and news from the country as the civil war intensifies.

Hong Kong-based PCCW Ltd. is now carrying most of the Internet traffic to and from Syria, according to Renesys, a Manchester company that studies the structure of the Internet. PCCW has shouldered the load as Türk Telecom, the main phone company in neighboring Turkey, dropped away Aug. 12. It’s not clear what killed its connections to Syria, but Turkey has protested the Syria regime’s actions. China is one of Syria’s few international allies. Renesys said on Aug. 21 that Telecom Italia and Deutsche Telekom also carry some Syrian Internet traffic, but the Italian company’s share is declining for unknown reasons.