Mobinil advertising banner

On January 25, 2011, the Egyptian revolution started against the military regime of Hosni Mubarak. In the first days of the uprising, many channels of communication (Internet, cell phone networks) were blocked by the government with the help of service providers. Mobinil, a major mobile phone operator, suspended their network service on government orders, helping the military disperse the masses on the streets and disrupt protesters’ ability to organize. It wasn’t only Mobinil that did this, but also two other companies: Vodafone and Etisalat. According to the Egyptian Communications Law, suspension of communication services can be ordered by the authorities in case of emergency and threat to national security. But it doesn’t really matter whether or not the companies followed orders. They are just like the military and any other business in the world. They do not care about people. They care about their own interests and money.

Recent Mobinil advertisements—like the one on view in the exhibition—capitalize on the revolution and struggles for democracy. They feature images of protesters and quote famous politicians who expressed support for the Egyptian struggle (like Austrian President Heinz Fischer stating: "The people of Egypt are the greatest people on earth and they deserve the Nobel Prize for Peace."). To companies like Mobinil, the revolution is just another theme they can exploit—a hook that they use to make a profit.

by Artur Żmijewski and Joanna Warsza

According to their website: "Mobinil is a publicly traded company that is proud to be Egyptian, offering the best services for its customers and the Egyptian market. Since inception, we have been committed to the principle of impartiality without taking positions in politics or religion, but actively participate in serving and developing the community, while preserving its values."