Reports just reaching EDESON ONLINE NEWS disclosed that the internet and mobile phone systems have been cut off in Syria. Internet monitoring firm Renesys said the country's connection protocols were unreachable, "effectively removing the country from the internet".
Local reports suggested that the internet had been down since early afternoon, and that telephone lines were only working intermittently.
The Syrian government has previously cut off access during major operations.
Renesys, a US-based firm which tracks internet connectivity worldwide, said on its blog: "In the global routing table, all 84 of Syria's IP address blocks have become unreachable."
According to its systems, access was disconnected at 12:26pm local time (10:26 GMT) today.
Another US firm, Akamai, also confirmed it was unable to connect with Syria's internet.
Activists were using satellite phones to make contact with the outside world, Reuters reported.
Psiphon, a Canadian company that produces advanced computer systems for circumventing censorship systems, told the BBC that its monitoring showed the number of people connecting from within Syria had "started to dive" from around midday local time.
Local reports suggested that the internet had been down since early afternoon, and that telephone lines were only working intermittently.
The Syrian government has previously cut off access during major operations.
Renesys, a US-based firm which tracks internet connectivity worldwide, said on its blog: "In the global routing table, all 84 of Syria's IP address blocks have become unreachable."
According to its systems, access was disconnected at 12:26pm local time (10:26 GMT) today.
Another US firm, Akamai, also confirmed it was unable to connect with Syria's internet.
Activists were using satellite phones to make contact with the outside world, Reuters reported.
Psiphon, a Canadian company that produces advanced computer systems for circumventing censorship systems, told the BBC that its monitoring showed the number of people connecting from within Syria had "started to dive" from around midday local time.