What is pager, why Hezbollah is dependent on this old device
September 18, 20242 Mins Read
International desk: Thousands of wireless devices used by Hezbollah members exploded in Lebanon on Tuesday (September 17), killing at least 9 people and injuring nearly 3,000. Lebanese security sources claim that Hezbollah bought 5,000 pagers or 'beepers' from Taiwan a few months ago, in which explosives were placed by Israel's intelligence agency Mossad.

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A pager or 'beeper' is a small portable communication device that receives short messages (usually numeric or alphanumeric) via radio frequency signals.

Pagers were widely used before mobile phones became popular. It was an important means of communication; Especially for professionals like doctors, journalists, technicians and managers. It conveyed important messages to them, even in remote areas.

How does the pager work?

Pager is simple to use, but very effective. When the message is sent via radio waves, the device alerts the user with a distinctive beep. This prompt requires the user to find a nearby public or landline phone to respond to the message.

With the advancement of technology, pagers have also made significant progress. Its new models have smaller screens, allowing users to view short messages directly on their devices.

In the 1990s, these small devices were replaced by mobile phones. The convenience of mobile phones quickly reduced the demand for pagers, and by the late 1990s pagers had largely disappeared from the public eye.

After a recent cyber attack targeting the Iran-backed Hezbollah, it was revealed that the group was still using the pager, which many assumed had been lost.

Hezbollah fighters have been using pagers as a low-tech means of keeping Israeli forces from tracking their location.

According to reports, months before Tuesday's explosion, Israel's spy agency Mossad planted explosives in 5,000 pagers imported by Hezbollah.

Lebanese security sources told Reuters news agency that the detonated pagers belonged to Taiwan-based Gold Apollo. However, while noting that the devices are not manufactured, the company says they are manufactured by a company called BSC, which has a license to use its (Gold Apollo) brand. However, the company did not give any details.

SSC certificate distribution from 25th September

Several senior Lebanese security sources said Hezbollah had ordered 5,000 beepers from Gold Apollo, which were brought into the country earlier this year.

Source: NDTV