Explosions in Lebanon: What is a beeper, this device used by Hezbollah militants that has exploded by the thousands?

Simultaneous explosions across Lebanon on Tuesday, September 17, killed nine people and injured 2,800. Pagers exploded at the same time. The devices were used by militants from Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed Lebanese Islamist movement. Small explosives appeared to have been hidden inside, according to U.S. officials interviewed by The New York Times.

Also read:
Pager explosions in Lebanon: 2,800 injured, at least nine dead including a little girl… what do we know about the unprecedented operation targeting Hezbollah?

What is a beeper?

A pager, also known as a beeper, biper, or pager in English, is a small radio paging device that can receive, and for some, send short written messages on the screen. Kept in the pocket or worn on the belt, they were very popular in the 90s before the arrival of the mobile phone. In France, they were known under the brands Tatoo, Tam-Tam or Kobby. 2.3 million devices were in service in France in 1998.

What is its use?

In their heyday, pagers could be used in hospitals to alert a doctor or to mobilize staff in emergency departments. They can be seen, for example, in the old American medical series “ER”. The service developed among individuals in the 90s.

What are its advantages?

The pagers can use their own network, with their own radio frequencies, without going through mobile phone networks. They allow terrorist groups like Hezbollah to limit the risk of telecommunications hacking but also to not be located, given that they do not have an integrated GPS. The pagers operate on batteries with a particularly long life.

How does it work?

The pager receives signals via radio waves. When a message is sent to the pager, it beeps to alert the user and displays a short message or a phone number to call back on its screen.

Is the pager still in use?

The rise of the mobile phone was fatal to the pager market. The principle is still used in restaurants in particular. Round and made of plastic, the pager is given to the customer who is waiting for his food. It vibrates and flashes when his order is ready.