Hasta La Gadget!

It’s a long way from business as usual, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction. Internet access has reportedly been restored in the chaotic country, after being cut off last week in the wake of protests against Egyptian president Hosni Mubarek.

Word of the restored service comes via Renesys. The Web analyst is reporting that traffic levels in the country are back to normal. It added that access to blocked social networks has also been restored. “We confirm that Facebook and Twitter are up and available inside Egypt,” it said in an official statement.

Twitter especially has served as a platform for online protests against the government, even in the wake of a shutdown that left millions of Egyptians in the dark. Google yesterday announced a speak to tweet service that allowed Egyptians to voice their concerns without the need for Web access.