Recent news in Lebanon has been marked by a series of explosions in several Hezbollah strongholds, injuring many people. Lebanese army soldiers had to deploy quickly to provide security, while ambulances were mobilized to transport the wounded to hospitals in Beirut. These incidents come against a backdrop of ongoing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah fighters.
At the heart of these tragic events are pagers, those small communications devices that were once essential and have made a surprising comeback. While smartphones have largely supplanted pagers in everyday life, they continue to be used by some, providing a reliable alternative to traditional mobile phone networks.
Pagers, thanks to their dedicated frequency, offer more secure communication, avoiding interruptions and potential interceptions of communications. This is why Hezbollah had recommended that its members favor pagers after a previous attack that sparked an armed conflict in Gaza.
Although pagers reached their peak in the 80s and 90s, with millions of them in circulation worldwide, they are still used in specific sectors, such as hospitals. According to a study published in 2017, nearly 80% of hospital doctors in the United States use pagers, highlighting their importance in the medical field.
Outside of the medical sector, pagers are also used in less savory activities, such as drug trafficking. Manufacturers highlight the reliability of these devices, capable of transmitting alerts even through physical obstacles, while Wi-Fi or telephone networks could experience malfunctions.
The history of pagers dates back to the late 1940s, with the invention of this wireless communication device by Alfred Gross. The first pager was used in a New York hospital before being popularized by the Motorola company, which dominated the market for decades. Since the 1980s, pagers have evolved to allow the sending of written messages, thus ensuring efficient and discreet communication.
In conclusion, although smartphones have become the most widespread communication tools, pagers remain useful in specific areas, offering a reliable and secure alternative. These recent incidents in Lebanon highlight the importance of diversifying means of communication to ensure the confidentiality and security of exchanges, even in an increasingly digital world.