What is a pager and why are they still being used today?

In the wake of recent explosions involving pagers used by Hezbollah members in public places across Lebanon, leaving thousands of casualties among civilians, public curiosity has resurfaced regarding the role and relevance of pagers—an older technology many associate with the past.

What Is a Pager?

A pager, also known as a beeper, is a small, battery-operated radio receiver. It alerts its user, either through sound or vibration, when it receives a signal. These signals often contain a numeric message, like a phone number, or, in the case of more advanced alphanumeric pagers, a brief text message such as “Call Home.”

Pagers were widely popular from the late 1980s through the 1990s. By the 2000s, however, the rise of smaller, more affordable mobile phones with better battery life led most consumers to abandon pagers in favor of cellular communication.

How Do Pagers Work?

Pagers come in two main types: one-way pagers, which only receive messages, and two-way pagers, which can both send and receive messages. The simplicity of pagers made them especially useful in industries like healthcare, emergency services, and journalism, where reliable communication is crucial.

Why Are Pagers Still in Use Today?

While they might seem outdated, pagers are still in use for very specific reasons. One of their greatest advantages is reliability. In emergencies when mobile networks fail, pagers continue to operate, offering a critical communication backup. They cut through the noise of everyday smartphone alerts, ensuring that only priority messages are delivered.

Pagers also offer privacy benefits. Unlike modern smartphones, pagers do not have GPS or Bluetooth, making them ideal for those who prefer to avoid location tracking. This makes pagers particularly useful in sensitive industries, such as healthcare or high-security government settings, where discretion is important.

Additionally, the select nature of pager contact lists makes them a practical tool for avoiding unwanted communication like robocalls. Only key contacts typically have access to a pager number, ensuring important messages reach their destination.

Why Did the Hezbollah Pagers Explode?

The recent explosion of several pagers used by Hezbollah members has sparked intense scrutiny. A Lebanese security source told Al Jazeera that the devices had been pre-rigged with explosives. According to the source, the weight of the explosive charge was relatively small, estimated at no more than 20 grams of explosive material. These pagers, imported five months ago, are now at the center of an investigation into how the explosive charges were activated.

Several hypotheses are being explored as authorities try to determine the method used to detonate the devices. The precise mechanism behind the explosion remains unclear.

Another hypothesis suggests that the incidents may have involved tampering with the batteries, causing them to overheat and explode.

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