Connecting Humanity (also known as eSims for Gaza) is an activist collective which provides internet access to people in Gaza using donated

eSIM An eSIM (embedded SIM) is a form of SIM card that is embedded directly into a device as software installed onto a eUICC chip. First released in March 2016, eSIM is a global specification by the GSMA that enables remote SIM provisioning; end ...

s, allowing them to connect to networks outside of Gaza. It is run by

Mirna El Helbawi Mirna El Helbawi () is an Egyptian journalist, writer, podcaster and activist. She is the founder of Connecting Humanity, a non-profit organisation that helps people in Gaza Strip, Gaza to regain access to the internet, using donated eSIMs. She ...

, an Egyptian journalist, writer and activist. Over 200,000 people in Gaza (around 10% of the population) have received internet access through an eSIM.

Background

The Israeli Ministry of Communications has control over the cellular communications and technology Palestinians may build, which has been limited to 2G. Direct attacks on telecommunications infrastructure by Israel, electricity blockades and fuel shortages have caused the near-total collapse of Gaza's largest cell network providers. Lack of internet access has obstructed Gazan citizens from communicating with loved ones, learning of IDF operations, and identifying both the areas most exposed to bombing and possible escape routes. The blackouts have also impeded emergency services, making it more difficult to locate and access the time-critical injured, and have impeded humanitarian aid agencies and journalists as well.

First use of eSIMs

The Egyptian journalist, writer and activist

discovered that eSIMs (a programmable

SIM card A typical SIM card (mini-SIM with micro-SIM cutout)A SIM card or SIM (subscriber identity module) is an integrated circuit (IC) intended to securely store an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) number and its related key, which are u ...

built into a smartphone) could be used by people in Gaza to connect to remote

telecommunication Telecommunication, often used in its plural form or abbreviated as telecom, is the transmission of information over a distance using electronic means, typically through cables, radio waves, or other communication technologies. These means of ...

networks whilst

roaming Roaming is a wireless Wireless communication (or just wireless, when the context allows) is the transfer of information (''telecommunication'') between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or oth ...

(primarily Egyptian and Israeli networks). The first people she was able to connect by this method were Egyptian journalist Ahmed El-Madhoun and Palestinian journalist

Hind Khoudary Hind Osama Al-Khoudary (Arabic: هند خضري) is a Palestinian journalist based in the Gaza Strip. She has reported for multiple media outlets including Al Jazeera English and Anadolu Agency. Early life and education Khoudary was born in ...

. The collective currently uses eSIMs from the providers

Airalo Airalo is a company that sells eSIMs. It is headquartered in Delaware with its operational base in Singapore. As of May 2024, it had 10 million users. It offers eSIMs for use in most countries. eSIMs are a type of SIM card, particularly useful f ...

, Holafly, Nomad, and Simly which are activated by transmissible, one-time QR codes.

Impact

By December 2023, 200,000 Gazans (approximately 10% of the population) had received internet access through an eSIM provided by Connecting Humanity. In 2024 they were recognised by the Electronics Frontier Foundation awards for 'Championing Internet Access in Gaza'.

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://connecting-humanity.org/ Reactions to the Israel–Hamas war 2023 establishments in Egypt History of cryptography Organisations based in Cairo Egypt–Palestine relations 2020s in Cairo Gaza Strip in the Israel–Hamas war Telecommunications companies of Egypt Telecommunications companies of Israel Egypt in the Arab–Israeli conflict