A high-ranking Lebanese telecom official bristles at the claim that consumers are paying “the highest price for the worst service.” In a radio interview, he counters: “Ogero’s internet prices are the lowest in the Middle East, and the service is among the best.” This statement effectively undermines the pledge made by the new Minister of Telecommunications, Charles Haj, to “seriously work on improving the telecom sector.” According to the official, everything is already “running smoothly,” with the sector thriving thanks to the dedication of administrative staff and the sacrifices of employees. The only missing piece, he suggests, is securing the financial resources “buried” within the Ministry of Finance in an orderly manner to ensure the sector’s full potential shines through.

Yet, setting aside the all-too-common occurrence of internet outages—one of which interrupted work as this article was being written—it is inaccurate to claim that consumers are paying a small price for their service. Ogero prices an 80GB, 50Mbps internet package at 420,000 Lebanese pounds, which represents 2.3% of the minimum wage, currently set at 18 million Lebanese pounds. In contrast, “the global standard for fair internet pricing, ensuring accessibility for all, is estimated at 0.01% of income,” according to telecom expert Wassim Mansour. The cost escalates significantly for unlimited internet plans—preferred by most households due to growing online usage—reaching $20 for just 8GB, or approximately 10% of the minimum wage. When factoring in landline and fixed internet fees, along with the cost of topping up two prepaid mobile lines at a minimum of $20 each to cover essential needs, a household’s monthly telecom expenses reach $40, amounting to 20% of the minimum wage. This is a staggering figure by any measure. Another indicator of the sector’s poor value is that “60% of internet users in Lebanon do not receive their service from Ogero,” Mansour adds.

The Resource Shortage Argument

Telecom authorities attribute service deficiencies to the sector’s dwindling share of collected revenues and delays in receiving these funds. For instance, the first installment of Ogero’s allocated budget for 2024 was not disbursed until February 18, 2025. “If the new minister aims to enhance service quality, his priority should be resolving this issue with the Ministry of Finance,” officials argue. The funds Ogero receives barely cover maintenance costs and diesel expenses for central office generators. Since 2019, no investment has been made to upgrade Lebanon’s outdated copper network—installed in the 1990s and costly to operate and maintain. Officials stress the urgent need to replace the aging infrastructure with fiber optics or another modern technology.

The Failure of the optical fiber Project

Among the hundreds of thousands of subscribers to fixed internet—whether through Ogero or licensed and unlicensed distributors—only around 13,000 to 14,000 users have access to optical fiber internet, primarily in limited areas of Beirut, according to Mansour. “Despite at least $180 million already spent on the optical fiber project—more than half of the total $300 million allocated—the initiative has failed to achieve its intended impact,” he notes. This suggests that Lebanon’s internet crisis extends beyond financial constraints and outdated copper networks, revealing deeper issues of mismanagement and lack of strategic planning in this critical sector. These structural problems plague the economic crisis, as most revenues were historically funneled into operational expenses and an oversized workforce rather than infrastructure development.

The Role of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority

Against this backdrop, discussions on reviving the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) have resurfaced. This body is tasked with adjusting pricing structures, preventing anti-competitive practices, regulating market privileges, and issuing licenses—all essential measures for developing the sector. “Its role is pivotal, important, and fundamental,” Mansour states. However, he warns that its mere existence will not resolve all problems: “The TRA’s primary function is regulatory, with licensing as a secondary role.”

Contrary to popular belief, Mansour argues that “there is no monopoly in the internet sector.” While the Ministry of Telecommunications remains the sole entity responsible for importing internet bandwidth via undersea cables and distributing it through Ogero, “Lebanon has 120 licensed internet service providers (ISPs) and 600 unlicensed companies.” Therefore, the TRA’s role is not to break a monopoly—because “monopolies have already been dismantled,” according to Mansour—but rather to ensure transparent investment and curb mismanagement. He cites the fiber optic project as a prime example, where $180 million of the $300 million budgeted led to service for only 13,000 subscribers. The TRA should focus on monitoring service quality, developing a strategic roadmap, and ensuring coverage for underserved areas.

The Need to Implement Law 431

From another perspective, the TRA’s mission should align with the framework of Law 431. The authority’s previous failures were due to two main reasons:

Ignoring the law’s provision to strip the Ministry of Telecommunications of its exclusive control and transfer telecom services to a new company, Liban Telecom.

The private sector’s alignment with successive ministers of telecommunications against the TRA, as the minister retains the exclusive authority to grant ISP and DSP licenses rather than the regulatory body.

Now, more than ever, Lebanon must enforce Law 431 and establish a neutral and independent regulatory authority. Otherwise, the country risks implementing reforms only in appearance while actively undermining them in practice—if not outright working against them.