Once again, Lebanon’s telecom infrastructure is under pressure as the war with Israel escalates. Israel’s bombing on residential neighborhoods caused a massive wave of displacement, and residents are worried that telecoms may not be able to keep the country connected.

Despite the lessons learned during the 2024 war, Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications still appears to lack a clear emergency plan to maintain connectivity during bombardment, mass displacement, and the mounting strain on so-called “safe” areas now absorbing growing populations.

Fifteen months after the September 2024 aggression, network outages in some parts of the country, particularly the south, have yet to be fully repaired. 

SMEX addressed a series of questions to the Ministry to inquire about the reasons behind this neglect, but the Ministry’s response offered little clarity, notably omitting any technical details.

No clear emergency plan

Instead of addressing the continuity of internet connectivity, the possibility of remote learning, and support for first responders and journalists, the government instead fast-tracked the rollout of Starlink for certain entities only.

This lack of action raised further questions about the priorities guiding the management of the telecommunications sector during the war.

Below, we publish the Ministry’s response, along with a breakdown of lessons to be learned from the previous war. SMEX also provides solutions in collaboration with experts in the field.

According to sources in the Ministry: “Since the very first moments of the sudden outbreak of hostilities, daily and intensive meetings have been held at the Ministry or through video to manage the adopted emergency plan. The Ministry’s teams and operating companies have been working continuously to ensure service stability in safe areas and to repair it in affected or targeted areas.”

SMEX asked: What exactly is this plan? What tangible benefits does it offer to people in Lebanon, especially those affected by the war? Are there daily updated statistics on stations that have gone out of service due to Israeli airstrikes?

The Ministry sources added: “The Ministry has taken all necessary measures and precautions and is working like a beehive and round the clock to monitor network conditions on the ground and technically. This ensures service continuity and stability, while also safeguarding those working in the sector under difficult conditions, especially during field movements in affected or targeted areas and during maintenance operations. The Ministry places utmost importance on this matter, continuously monitors all developments affecting the network, and operating companies are working to strengthen network capacity and increase bandwidth to ensure stable service in densely populated areas.”

Among the many unanswered questions are inquiries about how internet access is being secured in areas experiencing displacement strain, whether the network can be reinforced, and whether mobile stations will be deployed in high-density areas. 

The Ministry also failed to respond to several of SMEX’s key considerations, including whether it was planning to support the rollout of remote learning, and whether internet routers will be provided in shelters free of charge. 

They also provided no details on extending the validity of prepaid telecom credits or on offering free bundles to emergency teams, journalists, and workers operating under emergency conditions.

SMEX learned that some employees at Ogero were dissatisfied with how the administration was handling the war. According to sources, no crisis unit has been formed, coordination between regions has not been activated to ensure network continuity, and no directives or circulars have been issued to technical managers. 

SMEX attempted to contact Ogero Director Ahmad Oueidat for clarification but received no response.

A push to fast-track Starlink deployment

During a cabinet session held on March 5, a few days after the onset of the escalation, the Lebanese Council of Ministers decided to allow the immediate selling of Starlink and to expand the categories authorized to use this service before legal procedures are completed.

In other words, the Ministry working to secure and provide satellite internet for certain groups is actively barring citizens from their right to communicate and to be connected during crises and war. 

After initially constraining the use of Starlink to commercial companies, the latest Cabinet decision now allows embassies, government entities, and non-governmental organizations to benefit from its services.

Returning to SMEX’s questions, the Ministry did not respond to inquiries regarding the activation of Starlink, the associated security risks, or which entity would be responsible for handling user data (which is supposed to pass through the Security Operations Center in Qatar, which was not expected to be ready before May).

Ministry sources told SMEX that any technical solution, whether via satellites, Starlink, or otherwise, offers much-needed support in emergency situations. In this context, the State Shura Council rejected the suspension of the Starlink project, and its implementation is proceeding according to the established plan. 

Naturally, however, there is still no answer regarding Elon Musk’s control over and unilateral authority to activate Starlink, particularly given his link to U.S. foreign policy decisions.

Three days after SMEX submitted its questions to the Ministry, which responded generally, withholding any technical explanations or statements of public relevance, the Ministry announced that it had addressed one of the issues related to Ogero’s fixed telephone lines during the war.

Limited official initiatives to contain the crisis

The Minister of Telecommunications, Charles Hajj, issued a decision allowing the forcibly displaced and those whose houses have been affected as a result of the war to request that their telephone or internet subscriptions be suspended free of charge. 

Billing and the collection of monthly fees would be halted from the date of the request. Subscribers may also contact the center via the number 1515 or by email at thepeople@ogero.gov.lb. Requests are limited to those directly affected by the aggression or displaced.

Sources at touch, one of Lebanon’s two telecom companies, told SMEX that since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Iran, an emergency plan has been activated. 

Priority had been given to securing essential supplies, particularly fuel, to ensure the continued operation of stations, in addition to distributing tasks among technical teams on the ground. 

Equipment has also been secured to upgrade microwave capacity and enhance the 4G network, which was not available during the previous war.

The sources added that the network is in a better condition compared to the previous war, noting that areas experiencing heavy pressure are limited to the Chouf and Aley regions, whereas the network previously suffered from weak continuity. 

Teams from touch are currently installing mobile stations in those affected areas, as well as in the Jbeil-Keserwan region. 

touch also confirmed to SMEX that no transmission stations in the south have been directly targeted by Israel. However, some stations were beginning to run out of fuel, as technical teams were unable to reach them. The source told SMEX that coordination is underway with the Lebanese Army to supply them with diesel.

Regarding measures taken for remote learning, a free data bundle has been launched to ensure the continuity of education for students at all levels, including free access to educational platforms via both Alfa and touch. 

The bundle includes free access to Microsoft Teams and the “Madrasati” platform from Monday to Friday, between 7:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., enabling teachers and students to communicate remotely without consuming their personal data. 

These measures are expected to be announced in a joint press statement by the Ministries of Education and Telecommunications.

In a related development, touch introduced a “Solidarity” bundle offering 3 GB of internet and one hour of calls for one dollar, two days after the outbreak of the war, while Alfa has taken no comparable initiative. 

SMEX attempted to contact Alfa for a comment but received no response.

This war once again reveals the incapacity and poor management of the telecommunications sector in Lebanon. Between the Ministry’s general statements and the limited initiatives of private operators, people across Lebanon remain the weakest link in the country’s during times of crisis.
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