Libya jams media satellites
2005-12-03 11:21
London - Britain and the United States have complained to Libya after two international satellites were illegally jammed, knocking off air TV, radio and other communication channels.
Digital broadcasts, including those by CNN International, BBC World, US sports channels, 23 radio stations and US military, diplomatic and FBI channels were affected, according to The Guardian newspaper.
British embassy officials in Tripoli have raised the issue with the Libyan government. The British telecoms regulator, Ofcom, was also considering a complaint to the International Telecoms Union.
The jamming is reported to have started on September 19 after a small British- and Arab-owned commercial radio station began broadcasting from London to Libya on human rights and freedom of speech issues.
quot;This channel broadcasts terrorist propaganda"
The transponder carrying the station was jammed for 50 minutes, 10 minutes after the station - initially known as Sout Libya - went on air. The interference ceased when the station stoppped broadcasting.
According to The Guardian, Sout Libya renamed itself Sowt Alamel, and as a precaution broadcast via the US and then the Telstar 12 satellite, making it impossible for its signal to be jammed from anywhere except the US.
Its output was not affected but other stations carried by the satellite were.
An anonymous e-mail was then sent to a company associated with the station, stating that the problems were caused by the Alamel channel on the satellite, the newspaper added.
The e-mail stated that "this channel broadcasts terrorist propaganda, intended to spread terrorist ideas amongst the listeners mindes (sic)".
"We need a full explanation of what has happened and whether Britain has insisted as part of its trade talks with the Libyans that it respected international law," said Andrew Mackinlay, a member of the British parliament who also sits on the House of Commons foreign affairs committee.
Sowt Alamel is said to have voluntarily agreed to suspend its service.