World •
Ankara Cafés Rent Satellite Minutes Like Wi-Fi Tokens
By Syed John
Journalists buy secure uplink vouchers with their coffee.
Independent reporters in Ankara flock to cafes that sell satellite uplink minutes at the counter. Buy a latte, scratch a code, plug into a mini dish on the balcony, and beam footage without relying on ISPs. It's journalism meets convenience store.
Authorities grumble but can't ban it without angering tourists who love the novelty. Cafes frame it as a premium amenity, and patrons describe the ritual like sacred ceremony.
When public infrastructure can't guarantee privacy, entrepreneurs improvise. The result is espresso-fueled freedom.