In this Iraq war it appears the Internet failed first, followed by the wireline telephone system, portions of the electrical grid. Iraq did not have a cellular telephone service. Part of the reason why Internet service was knocked out early was Iraq's apparent centralized control. Uruklink had very little diversity or redundancy, and appeared to route all of its traffic through a single centralized point. The Bahgdad telephone network was composed of 20 central offices, but relied on four critical offices. It appears to have taken a few attempts to disrupt the telephone network, but it eventually succumbed. Broadcast television and radio had taken a beating, but Iraq appears to have planed ahead and had extensive backup broadcast facilities and spare parts. Broadcast service has been off the air for a few hours, but then comes back. Satellite services including satellite television and telephone service seems to survived the longest. However, satellite services are eventually controlled by a very few organizations. Although it may be difficult to attack on the ground, pressuring international satellite providers to turn off transponders is possible. http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-2528727,00.html In recent days, telephone exchange bombings have isolated many of the city's 5 million residents. At least six phone centers have been hit, and most phone lines are down. Intermittent service within certain neighborhoods was still available on Wednesday. ``I can only reach the Sheraton Hotel across the road,'' said the Palestine Hotel operator. Foreign journalists who remain in Baghdad are staying at the hotel. ``I have no work to do,'' the operator said. ``No local calls and no international calls.'' http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=War%20Bomb%20Impact "Bombed telephone exchanges have offered the most graphic scenes of destruction - thousands of wires splayed out like a gaping wound, with furniture, computers, and wall insulation everywhere, but everything nearby left alone."