Top Banner
EHeCUliu) TELECOMMUNICATIONS Redialing discord? New politicollandscape could bling Intemet pl'9teSS at leave the lines rongled " d('Krihc lfi>,lIlO<1" """or .Ii poh'lCllt'd 11<",1<.1 II<' an CM1 ,,"I' ",th "'l"'): tI", .lInmK'!" ,,( 2006 "', ..... ""f,,l .... IItJt I In .... U .. h and J,. r.od nit<>! .. (:OOd g.>mr .. 1 ult fruon ""..., to ",",", ""' .... , .. top ,ho- ran,," of .\'3t. CJI"'" ,oJU>lrit;. In II", t .. rll- In mod·l99(),., 1/,.. ,.""". Iu, btcon><, link mof<" ,h .. " " ..... n<kd at ,ht ol("r.,' ,,( of It) t" "S ft>, 1m' ''1! Ltl>.mon" I'",l"",al ('l."". Too,, )' Iht sr<"f0l" Ita,> 1M dub,("" d""".:11'''' of h .. ,ong 1M ,,-. tr .. lnftmel ,pcnl In .hot ", ... Id and ,ht h>g.hc.t for ' ,,"1«" '-lmc >n"\ ten In 1M \ IIddk F ...... -\Ii t ,'" l. .. ,.., man)- NS'" .hmp and .tIC" rn",.., ron' ...... ...- "lour ""'1"'" .. the> [:p' <'m:ln.;c' of ,"" "",en •• - ""oJ R,ad Ibhwun. ",k..·om 31 .hI: In'ern .. !",,,,,1 TrI",ommum,·,,'"'''' Unoon I lTUI- CM .. rm ul It..: U""rd :-.; .. ,,,,,,. ,h", « .. Is
7

Telecoms: Redialing discord?

Nov 18, 2014

Download

News & Politics

Cedarcom News

An article in the June 22 edition of "Executive" magazine wonders whether the new "political landscape " will bring "Internet progress or leave the lines tangled."


http://www.executive-magazine.com/getarticle.php?article=14425
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: Telecoms: Redialing discord?

EHeCUliu) TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Redialing discord? New politicollandscape could bling Intemet pl'9teSS at leave the lines rongled

" d('Krihc lfi>,lIlO<1" !tlr..~lm"'um.

,~""'" """or .Ii poh'lCllt'd 11<",1<.1 II<' an u"d.:r;!~ttml'"! CM1 ,,"I' ",th

"'l"'): tI", .lInmK'!" ,,( 2006 "', ..... ""f,,l .... IItJt I In .... U .. h and J,.

r.od nit<>! .. (:OOd g.>mr .. 1 ult fruon ""..., to ",",", ~,n..""1' ""' .... , .. top ,ho- ~ ran,," of .\'3t. t<h.~M1"nun,

CJI"'" ,oJU>lrit;. In II", t .. rll- In mod·l99(),., 1/,.. ,.""". Iu, btcon><, link mof<" ,h .. " ~ " ..... n<kd

~a"'b at ,ht ol("r.,' ,,( th..·I'J"~s of It) t""S ft>,1m' ''1! Ltl>.mon" I'",l"",al ('l."". Too,, )' Iht sr<"f0l" Ita,> 1M dub,("" d""".:11'''' of h .. ,ong 1M s~"'·e>c ,,-. tr .. ~t lnftmel ,pcnl In .hot ", ... Id and ,ht h>g.hc.t 'pnc~ for ' ,,"1«" '-lmc >n"\ ten In 1M \ IIddk F ......

-\Ii t ,'" l. .. ~mlt ,.., man)- NS'" .hmp and .tIC" rn",.., ron' ...... ...- "lour ""'1"'" .. the> [:p' <'m:ln.;c'

of ,"" "",en •• - ""oJ R,ad Ibhwun. ",k..·om "'-~P"1 31 .hI: In'ern .. !",,,,,1 TrI",ommum,·,,'"'''' Unoon I lTUI- CM .. rm ul It..: U""rd :-.; .. ,,,,,,. ,h", « .. Is

Page 2: Telecoms: Redialing discord?

EHecutiul ","h ,nform,.""" commun'C3l1ons technology. "h's ,h~ dnm,nJflOIl of pohll(,< o>'~r perform­anct. I(s ,he <ubJ«t,on of mrdhS"nc~ 10 forc~

and roI!Kn"~ '"Ie restS 10 md"',dual .... ,11. Thi. is called 1)' r.1n1'l)" and drspollc gowrnance.·

Th,s h,gh-handedness was on full di~pla)' in :--iay. wilen rh lack of .dorm and ,he hyper­pohflC',.,d dtcl.ion·making ,n rhe S«IOT culmi­nalW In an cmharrassing C'OCountC't bcrw«t1 etta.lxl IIbha •. then ,h ... TeiKom miniS!er al· Ii«! ",.,h the ,\breh 8 <,oalilion. and hundrtds of mcmbe~ of the .".">rify forces. who pre'" ,-cmcd the minister'. team from '''Icring onc of the miniwy'" buildings in 'h" AdJi,h dimict IU dismantle. nOn-,,)mmer<;ial cellular network rh .1 had he"n operarins;n p~ralld 10 the COun­frY's tWtl commcr.:ial Opc'rators.

The ronfromarion appuently nm<' abo;>ul ",hoen Abduhmnaim YouSKf, .... -ho.$ all.(d ..... nh rM opposITIon March 14 "o.>hllOn and huds LcNnOO'$ mcum~nl fi.ud·hn~ publIC Opt'r~ror OGERO, r~ues!t<1 rhar rh( hud of rhe Inter. nal Security Fo.ces (ISF), Ash.af Rlfi , .... ·ho IS al· ,0 ~Ihed with rhe 0ppoSl llon, guard OGERO's properry from Ihe mmislry's pr)'ing e)·es.

OGERO .... ";IS c'calro on 1972 and comrols Ih .. count ry's fi"ro·hne ~"'lCes 3S ....... 11 as ns rur· rent Intc.".,,'nf"'.lructU .... II ac" under 1M ~su· p<"" UIOfl of Iht ItlCCom mln"lry". 1 w....~'~r," IS

al .... fiJ1.llIlCl:llly and admln"''''"''(ly ondc:pt"nd· ent, In ;a«()rdance ..... ,.h .M la ..... Ihar c.-calro II. and an ........ ,., 101M di'ccloule gene'al of opera· lions and maintenancr allhe minosrry, ..... hich has also been hurled by Youssd since 2007.

Immtdialtl)· afler Ih .. Adlieh Incident, ,he polillcal mudshnging ~gan. Th( con"olu,«I a,ungement O.· .. r ..... ho had au.hor"y !O Stt,

dlSmantl .. , o ..... n and opt"""( rh( ncl .... ·orl.: dc:. ""endc:d Into quar.-cISOft>(" d,spu res 0.· ... 1M consmunon,.I'IY of Ihc mo"C, rhe c"ilian .ule " f Ih( '«U';I~' forces. " ';.eupping. IlIepl I'hon .. lone< and So on. until ,he issue finally I~dcd infO Ihe hack ground. Lehanon ~mcrg .. d tmm Ihe fracu minus one f~\'t)lably regard .. d Jnd teChnocralic inte rior minis'er (Ziad Snoud, ..... ho .esigned foil..,,, Ing ,h .. incident ) 4nd no fu.,h(, along 1M pa,h !O rdorm.

I~I arttul11CntS aside, 1M ctllul~r phon~ let ..... o,k Nahu ....-as allcmpc"'g to Confi ..... l~ 'ron, OGERO ..... ;IS gi"cn 10 Ihe u,bane~ go." ""nem as a gifl in 2007 b!' Ihe Chlll(sc go,'· "'mem, Ih.ough the mult",atlOlul leI«ommu·

'lIcations c..,"'p~ny HU3wel. AI ,he lime,

Submarine cables coming to and from Lebanon

-- !-ME·w[

~M

-- """'" -~

-~ ---, tOOU" __

Sooo,...., I ... n~n' ........ .rb; 1.ltEII'F. _"""' ••. T,U,,- , __ ~ ,_ .It .. ....,. "'T.w-.... "k~,;-

lebanon " 'a< preparing 10 lib.:.aliu th .. IeI«ommunlcatlons markcl and "'troduce '..lban Tcl«om, a legally man<ialro 1JO,·(rnmen,· o .... ·nro body ..... "h a corpon.t .. f ... mc ..... OIk rha, .....ould C\'rntu~ny .~pbc .. OGERO and rake on mo>! of liS aSSCIS. Th( gifl pf<widcd Ihe Ch",esc wilh .n "pponunil)' 10 emer the rnarkN a5 il was "pI'nin~ up and 10 pro"r th31 il5 compallie~ wer ... ~pablc..,1 running a high qualiry ne[worl.:. AI Ihc ImlC, thc I«hnic:llitie$ of Ihe donaTIon " "<:fC nrg,,"atro b)' OGERO und(r YooSKfs pu"'OCW as di.«lor gt1lC1"al of th .. company.

Accord.ng '0 lTIJ's SahJOun, ..... Mn quts· liuns were raIsed aboUI wh .. ther ,h( network should be monilored by Ihe TtI«om Rtgulalo, ' Y Authurrty (TRA), Yous~f Solid Ihal II ..... ould be used wid)' for testing pur~s and hence, 3$

a lIon·cummercial n~l ..... o.k, II ..... ould ~ o'·e'· Sttn by h,m$<"lf and nOI 1M TRA. Yous~f d,d nOt respond 10 .~pt3,.d r~uC$'S for COmmenl.

The glfl, howe,·.r, dId nOl arrlye unlll 2009. whcn The currenl Energ.~· ~h",Sler Gcbran Rand ,,'as h.,d,ng up the IdccommunlC311ons mloln,.,. ~nd plans 10 ~I up Llban Tde-r;om had .ff....,III·ely been <c.apped due to poh t lCal wr3n· gling. By ,hl~ lime a row ~ad <'rup'ed .egHrling 3 n ........... "cr.lpl''''g la ..... ,ha, ..... "uld t.lke 3u·

Page 3: Telecoms: Redialing discord?

• r r

u)

Ih" "'l" ,,"cr ~uch ,~,uC' ~".ll ("'m ,he Inlo, ­"'.",,'" 1I""",h uf [he I ~ I ' oM d >pl" " b"""l"("n .h. "''''''Hlc, of I",nee, Id.·,,,,, ,,,n,,,,,,.mu,,' .• nd ,h" "" .. ior. In 2007 ••• /.rr the n"",,,,k had

"''''" plcd~cd. Ih,- """',,,, "',,""" 1'''' on a ro­qU("<1 I" .h" (:Ou .. e,1 "f ,\1"">1"". LoNr.()" ·~ cAh.lIM. 10 allo'" [ ..... I nf()t111~UU"

plmrlc 1l('[ .... ·<1,l "hI< h h,,,dl,,, .. "mll''''' ... I' ........ be,w.,..., ph""." .nd , ..... "",,,orkl ,n add,,, .. n 10 ,h" '''"''; , .... IIudhs" '''c 'Y"""' th~1 m.n-ag'" all of ,h,." ' .... ·rr." •• lId Inud Tara"'!. -«rndrf J:<"ncr~l "f [ .... I..,h ......... Tol«om A.-Sue;.""" (l I"A ). "h",h repro,",,,,> 1 .• 10,"'0"', pmJIC-l«lot .Jdta dn.J hu.n~[ pr"'·" k.~

"'cco rd"'t: to Il.Jh>oun. d ".,uII"h oppon.", u( "·h""te' N.,h ... . [h .. <qu'I"".nl wa, (".w,l· .da led JO 'U"'e p" ,m ,It b",ld"'l( III l\d hfch _",d thi. JII"wrd fur " "'''''' 11<,werl,,1 ",·.w"r~ wk,~h he '"'''''''' pl~ye<l ., I'at ' '" "",u"ero ,,~ "",,'" of ,he I .. ad. 'rr ,,..,w,,,h ,,' ,hc , 'UUlu')

""~, , .... pH' """e,al j·e, ... ~II .h ...... ~ w()l'k i, "!'<"J''''I: 15 I"on. "hl'

......,,, .,...j.fOO P<'OI'It '0 1'f'U'<'<' ,,?- .... ~""nl m...(JnC:III,·, ",1«''''1: '" , .... "'pmnl numb« "f ,"",urn, (OK ... p, .... '" ~" ....... ,,\d"'1: " ....... \Im· ........ ~~h~. ,nn! '" f"'C'. ~1'h:- ,,,,,h .. Ih:I, , lit I"f()l'm:.,.,,'" I\r~,..-h ",,,Id ""':K"«J>I ,n ~ny " .. , 'M ",,,,,''c. "f Ick-:.N""'un" .. :1' ...... ~ tN' a ,cam 3p;>rt (rum ,1..-'<'1 '" '"."...-. , .... "I"'pnl<"nt."

What "I"m",dy ~mC'lIetl f.o", , .... ria""" i. II", , . .,'" ,f ,h,' '",,"<!~r w •• " ,ult'mp'U11; '0 hi, , .... I,d "n a,,)' .,II,~rd W'''''IIJ"",!;. h. " '" 31.0 IT)''''!; to .preJ up ,h. ""pk·" ... n'3' K'" " f , .... C<.NHrmKJU' 1( , "N>b,k I",.n,c' I""ICC" ,Iu, loc

Runo;h 'u II.., .ho 1k1"".k (or 'n_ ,dhgmc. pu,J'<"f'>. "0" W~. dm,nl.

1h. J'K"",,,, .

"In ml' "P''''''" ,h" .. ~, ",. ,,,,,cd '" ,u.n b)' , .... 1,,(urnulI"" RrJn<:h.- sa,d 8.:o ll.oun. 'h""gll .... ,,,c.)<..! ,ha, he c".,IJ "0' cun·

-If this nelwork is operating I S lines,

why does it need 400 people to protect itr

la" '" ..... ,la" Jamld'Y ~ft .... 'h .... 1>­,Il<"! haJ .:..Jbpjo<'d. ,n ronlunctlon ""h ,""bli. ~'o .. Alf~ and mle.

A. hlll'm'l ~nl,,, M~",h.

, ....... h.". h«I' nunlC'l'OU5 """n· ."..,ml q ...... KJItI 0\..,.. , .... q"I,'l' of , .... I{; pr ....... ." du. ,,, , .... f.>Ct ,ha' "

'ltm <u,1I ",fo,m311"n. - The I"f"rllla ''' ," 1I •. ,nch p.obahly d,,,,iJrd to , In,,' " I ""l'",a~ w"h"", f"r",~ IIt'!:~1 (m'c'a)!c." 10,· ,,,I,lcd.

\X'hr,h~r u, "'H .10" IIe.wmk w.,. u",d fu, I1l1dlo~"n"r p"rl''''''' ,,, II I,kely 1:>.. ;til '''')!'''''~ "",,,,' "f b,elc,mlt all"''')! I Cl>,,",,"-' 1',,1011 ' \I."". h", .h~ ,.,p~h,I"" .. fu, .u, h ~" ,,!,<,ra'K,n wcrr (~"a",lj' ,h~rc. Th,' IIc"">rk wa. ",ddy ''l''''1C'<J.<> 1I~.·c a c~P;>"'l' "f ~O.OOO I",tlo ,h~, lUuld ha,e btt-" ~",pk''''d "",.,de , .... '"0 0 '>I"'I! •• lIub, "., .. ,>rh. ~J'K"~~'"II '" ' he I cl>.,,,.,,, ~,o.,d"~,,,"& <''''I'",~''u" I~"

",,,,,.h. "PP<»"'U" !' .. " ,,,, Mmen",,,, Memlocr .. I I'."hament ('ha~., y .. ".)<·f •. ., .1 , he "r, wor1. '''''' a'''' a 'otal of o"ll IS o!'<'r. """all,,>c •.

"fhr) <.oj' ,hat , lor 0<..1 ItO r'lUl p""'''' " """I,· ur "f (,1 h.,,~ ".11,,, ,, Ip." , "I ,h.· ,dl

.... L1un.:!,nl wll,l<- ~ <amak.r goo"

ern" ",,'. "-,,. ,,' 1'1 ..... , ~"J """t.... , .... ~tllr rt­

qUI"..! I.,,~,;.ol. "n' ("~Iur,,,,;'" (rom ,h. TRA and ,he ("Jh,,,,,, h."f 1>.. .... " S'.II"e<I ,0 ,I..- '''''''PJnlCS ,10" \\, ,11 "",,1,,<1 11. ~' l u"~lVcr. ,h,' pr<'»I""" ,,( a b ",·r. I",,,.·, ."''''K"C Ix·,,'~ """·,,IN b)' .10. puM" ""'" .... w>ll""" prO\ JI<' ...... , ... J,""" to , .... ",ark,". Iu, (urkJ ~ ""'PJ'I'" .',!:;,,"M ,he rU'" >fit .. ,. .... adcd to. 1 .•• ,1,,). d"'1 ~,...,,,"'-e of ,lor pl"'~'. '«HlI' ,:,."p;>"" C~'""" .. nd ,L""btJ,ur of ,he ;\ ' 0100 ... ,m.... Imm ........ '''''. Ta.JNy C<HW .....

,lit """ .... ny ",,10 , .... """ "I '>f'P<J"I'''''' MP and /on'1C'I' Td.,,,,,,,,mu,, ... ,,,,,,. ,'II"",., ;\1."",." Han ........ nd ".""".1. ,Iu. !\ah .... a"nnptil1(t '0 .~II .. )Ua!lIe' .... ' ....... oo'mu""'.''''''' "",'I"'.

I lc "'Y' h. h •• p",p. "..! ICII"I f,b as.ll nll ,h,' ,ci,·wlllm.",,'.""'" ""n,,")' .",d ", prr· p~ ro;J '0 .ub",,, 11,.", ,u ,he Shllra ,,,"'>c;I.

ll
Highlight
Page 4: Telecoms: Redialing discord?

EHOC Leban<lu's hlShes! courl. This CQmes ~ftcr an ""successful anen'l'lI ;I( ~rbi!ra!i"" through ,he TltA ,hal, P<'rh"ps rre<.licl~bl)·. did nO! lake anion "g;Jinsl the rnin;s!,)' il dcpcllds ... n for financing: the TItA sJ'<'n! $<',·c.31 ",,,mhs ,his )'1.'3' wi,hou! ,he monc}' 10 pay ils em­"Iol'tes. The TRA also did '"'' res!,""'] to re' p"",cd requestS for a[\ ;nlc, view.

/I.-losl of the contr<.>,·crsy surro""ding Ihe legality of JG Slrms from Iwo conrcmion. ,s­sucs. The for.! IS tde..-"'" Law 431. which SlalCS thaI licenses "nd fr~qucncics "'"SI cume from the cahinet and Ihe TltA rCSI'C",ivcl)',

ULaw 4J1 is "pplicahle and being implc­mClllcd: insine<ll",ad Hoballah. acting chair­man of Ihe '1'11.'\. at:l prl'M' conference imended I" respond w ,he minis,er's statementS 13" Illonth. Hol);,lbh We"t on '0 describe the Ii · unscs and f.eqnl"llcics Ih:1I the TIt ,\ h:1d given oul ",·cr its four·year Ie.m. though he "dmined that these had I.e,n h:",de<l olll l.efon· ,he Sh,,· ra con neil dtcision. Previously. the Shm3 Coun· cil has ruled again>l the ministry :lIld in f".or of the T II.A b", the.e is spccul,,,i,,n ,his ruli"l> mnld Ix' particularly pernicious for Ihc l"II.A.

~We r~s!I<'Ct the decision, of Ihe Shul";! council .,nd we will follow thl·"': H4Jb~ll3h

s"mnd is un fa ir ("ol11p<'I;,io" as 3 result of exorbimnt 13~ disen·p· alle;es btl",ccn public and pri ­v,,'e se"'icc providers. which would likely come al>t.>", If ,h\' pr<>jC<:1 mo"cs forwJ,d.

"We don't decide to implementlhe low; the

said. insisting that the d...:ision docs nO' negate lhe entire law. A~ked wh" ,he TRA w"nrd do if the t.-iccom",,,nic3t'ons min. istry ;ss",,1 JG frcq"e"ci~.., ,hOI the TCl>nbtory "gcney ;s 1"1;:111)' mand.ned '" allocate. he de · clined to comment. sa)·ing only tha, if the ,d,""on"nn"icalions minisl')· deci(ks 10 go ~hcJd

wilh""t allowinl> the priV3'~

Wi,h regards 10 Law 4J I. former TcI~comn"'nic~li"ns "·' ",i~ler Nahas's respon!><' h~s always Ix'en ,he Inw i~ nO! a""li ­cable. o~,ensiblr 1)<'C3us~ il h~, nOI ye, Ix'cn im"Ie"'en'cd in ils

(ouncil of Ministers decides. We are moving forward on the bosis of

the outhority of Ihe minislryw

cmir~ly. His "os;,;on gO! ~ boos, las, ",,,mh when he m",oun~ed Ih3t he had S<:en 3 Shura ~ooncil dO'Cision sta,ing Iha, ,he law had heen "suspcn&d" heC3use of A"ide 51. which s,a,C'S ,h:" "all applicahlc Iprtviousl 1"1;',1 or regu )awry provisions rClllain dfee! i,'c ",ui Ilhe ~nforccmenr" of ,he bw its<:1f. Transl~,i"n: Ihe law and 311 the ins,iwlions (.ealcd under ils iurisdiction. such as the TRA and Lib"n Td~· COlll. would aI,,, he ,echnically suspended. As " XfC1JTI'-[ wem t" prim ,hc ruling had no, )·ct Ix'cn Ill:ldc puhlic.

St"""" to p""kip.,tc. -no one c~n ~tand III ilS way. U

U I'und~ mc',,~ II}". 1 he TIt ,\ h:ls eight monrh~ left: c"'ncnd~d Am"ine lk>u'IOni.:ln ad,·,sor 10 Minisl" Nahas. speaking to EX!;(1JTlvr last month. Ik>ustdni·s pos; t ion.like tha' of N"h:1s, is tha, bNcan$C the law that created the T II. A;s not fully impkment • ..!. Uit·s alrcad)· ohrolc,,·".

-We do,,·t decide II> implement the law: the Conncil of .\ l i"islus dr.""ides. We arc moving (orw31<1 on th,· b.uis of Ihe authoril~· of ,he min;~tr~·. Wh~n they say Ihey " ·a"l to implc_ mem the law lin fulll we arc rcad)": he said, den)·ing that the min istry offieial1)· seeks 10 shu, down the TII.A.

-I'm nOl SlOppi" l> un til I gel my rights. u

Tnrabay snapped back dd13ntly. adding ,ha, he will file (on" (~ses agains, the ministry but is wai'ing 10 s<:e ,he Shnra (ouncil decision 10 u(inc ,unc" his lawsuit in line with Ihe Slatu! of\.a w431.

1jut accordinl> 10 Boustani. l"arahay will soon ha,·c I itlle to con'p13in aboOI. l..;1.s1 month he told EXf.CU1Wf. ,hat the minislf)" pbns on IHeling ,he playing field Ix'tween Ihe pri'·ale sector and I,ublie $Celor by decreasing ,he la~ ­es on the ("nner hy -50 to 55 percent. - Aske<l whether Ihe privalC St:"or will be allowed to enter tile market. he said -b,.js"'~- - 3n Ara· bic word ,nJ;Jlestinl> Ih31 somelhing on thi~

front could h""pen and wonld "" a positive-

ll
Highlight
ll
Highlight
Page 5: Telecoms: Redialing discord?

EHeCUtiu) Ihollgh h(" couldn', confirm or dc:n)' il. ~Wt will :lsk for if lin ,he cabin('l l; we dou', ha\'(' II

problem, W he: s,'lid, adding Ihal such a reqllcsi Mis lib<"ra lil.1lion, nOl priv;u il,'lIion. M

He also ):Ild Ihal a 10I1g':lw:l;I«I policy SI;llcmCIl I ,hal was promised h)' Ihe minIster onc y.'aT afln he look office would soon be is­sued. The issue has become ;l major talking poim (or opponents of N;lhas. including Ihe TRA, who sa)' Ihlll he has no pol icy ;"Ind works according In his own whims. Nahas's response has always bc('o ,ha l Ihe miniSlry's policy is a mailer of Mpractic(' nOI p3pcr.-

or course. Bousmni IS nOl an ad"isor 10 Ihe newly appointed ltdccurnnlLlnic:llionJ M inister Nlchol:u Sehnaoui. bill Ihe bne. is widely seen ;IS Nah;lS 'S prolcgr and has alre-ad)' st.m-d thou he will follow the So,me course :IS the previous minister. If he adopts Nahas's purported p-oliq - which I~ustani confirm s is M;aJrnos t doneM

- and m;ak t'$ it publk, it would mean that Ihe s~'ClOr will h;ave a general SCt of rules m;ambled by ,hc minis, ry undcr L1w 43 I for the first lime since former ~'I i ni sler Gebran Bassi l was in of· flC" from 2008·09. This would be significant, as il would providl' an iudica,ioo of Ih" mimsler's Intcnlions \·;S-3-\';) thc many cOlllcmiou$ Issues m Ih" <;(:clor,

Moncy 10 rnllk~ Bickcrtog a~idc, the mlOlSlf), has been

pn'ssing on wi lh the 3G projC<:l, :IS ha" c Dolh Alf;a and lIlIC. Thc ;anempted lakeo"cf of the lelccom cqui pment by Cha rbe! N:I-

Bolh Bahsoun and T;arabay C511111ale the \';allle of the Ihird network's C'qlliplllcnl, oncc up­I;nded, 10 be nound $10 million, (rhus m;ak­inl; up Ihe diffcrence between the ,wo bids).

Bolh Alfa and mlc stand 10 bem'fir grulI)' from Ihe 3G project, on lap of Ihc revenues Ihey alrc:ldl' garner from rhe I:llbl ive Lebanese who pay 58 percelll in 1,Ixes on all Idepholl<:: services, Zain's nllC, for instancc, has in.:reased ,heir ne t earnings fmm 522. 1 million in 2008 to $46,1 million under Iheir currelll management contracts. In January, un­der Ih .. car .. faker 1;00'erll l1lelll. Minisltr Nahas renewed Ihcir COllIfaCl$ for a ),c;ar,

Mli(le extended 12 months when Ihe millis· ler thoughllh;a, if Ihesc IWO comp;anie~;are go­ing 10 go into the 3G project Ihe)' n~'t"d SITUri­IY. They said Ih e~' need 1II0re ,han IWO 10 Ih r~ months 10 do such things. W said BoUS!;IIIi.

Ind ln - ~lIddle EliSI-Wcslcrn Ell lO l)C III So with the twO companies locked in a

yeady conlract, the Shura council ostensibly on Ihe minis,rr's sidc wi lh respcCl 10 I.;aw 43 1. ,he T RA hobbled and loothless and Taraba(s cas­es needing some lime 10 cOllie 10 frui lion, Ihere seems 10 be liule stopping tht" JG projcci from maleri;alir.iog somelimc around ' he end of ,he summer. Excel" for aile hitch.

In 2007 I_ebanon enlered an il1lernafiooal consor,ium ro construct a submarinc fiber-<tp­lic cable frolll Europe 10 India called ,he India-Middlt, E:tSI-WcSlern Europe J ( 1 ~·I EWE3J. I.ebnnoll has alrend), ill\'csted

has in Ma y C;ln be seen ;as parr of [his aggres$II'r push by Ih .... min­istry 10 make Ihe 3G projoc, a fael on Ihe: ground as quick I)' :IS possi. ble, beforc legal issut'$ polcoliall), compl,catr such plans.

"The minister thought if these two

some $53 million into rhe con· sr ruClion of the IInderw:lfer sea c;able 10 c;art)' traffic and unclog Ihe imCrll3lionai bOlllcntck Lebanon has long ~ lIffercd.

. . (om pontes ore gOing

According 10 Bahsoun and Taraba )" the: equipmcnl al Adlieh c;an I«hnic:tlly be upgraded ;and used 3$ part of Ihe 3G rolloU! cll r-

to go into the 3G project they need

security-

MC.lpacity has 10 be n"lCl al all le\'cls,w said Ghassan Hash:!ni. chid cxccllli,'c of rhe Intemallon· al Operntions group of Saudi Tele-

rendl' bei ll!; undertakc ll by !-I ua",ei and IIIIC. I-luawci won the contract 10 build thc new net· work fur Mubile Inte rim Company 2, Ihe: sl:llc-owncd edlular telccom cornp:IIl)' mao· aged b)' nilI'. The Chinese comp;al\)"$ winning bid was v~lucd :U $25.6 million (nm including a $2,7 milholl control centcr ,ha, wrll be bUll! by Nokia ), $10,6 million Il.'Ss rhan rhcir coun­terpart Ericsson, who won Ihe 3G comracl ;al Mobile Interim Company I. Ihe sr:1Ie-o",ncd cellubr lek.:om compan)' managcd b)' Alf: •.

com COIllp.ln~' (STC), whkh is pMr of I he consorliulll ;and is using t hc c;a ble. M If you haw a high sJX'Cd local conncclion network :llld clogged capaCil)' on your inlcrn;uion;11 gale­way. Ihen access 10 inlt'rnational content be­COIIICS ,'er), slow. Th~ have 10 corne logether and Ihe more connecri"il ), Ihtre is III Ihe country ,he belief ,he pfOSpt<:1S of lower prklng, of rouling for lrafflc. :utd Ihe Miler accessibililY )'OU hal'e 10 rhc rCSI of Ihe Inlernel globaJly.w

,\ccording to a source from the consor­liulI1. who asked for ;anollrnllly because he

ll
Highlight
ll
Highlight
ll
Highlight
ll
Highlight
ll
Highlight
Page 6: Telecoms: Redialing discord?

EHecut

"-3$ n(1t au.hQriud 10 .puk to rht r,n', rl!~ <om,a<. "'" .... «" ubanon and .he ,n" ... mum .. ~> "I\rtc'd by ~()('ERO TriKom-, "h,d. " not Ih~ official name of ()('I:RO. AI tht lilT>(',

rht ,.<'allon of L,ban Ttkcom ..... m~ .mml­"tilt ducc 1<> politICal ron..,,,, .. o .. nok •• ht ~an'

,Ota II"""""'"" and .htn TdC'<>, .... mll"" •. 1101» \Ion,., ... i\la"'-an Ibrnadc. I)",x'n' (;"" .... 1 r<)Us",f and ,h .. m'n",t. "C"" tn­~<>nud on ,h .. ,."m .. "d .. of .h .. pol""'31 fencr, rnabl,ng ,htm 10 b~' .h .. Sround .... ork fur ,h .. " polouedl comp's control "f ,he >C'<:to., By 1'>< _ ctm!1(', of I .. , yoar ,h. cable w)< r.,dl' If> ~" and all Ofhe. memM. ,<,unrric. of ,h. "0""'" IIum had . un....! TO """' iI, Bur hy ,hen ,h, po-1""-01 " .... of ,h. l.k<:nmrnunKdtnm, ,nin",,, ",c.t an>chmg h"1 .li!:"".!.

~ "8'''''''''''; a. Alf. ha,.., al,,-ad, , .. nhm...! 11o.:1t ,"" JG 1"'>t<'CI "III "ttd 1\1[\X'E.) 10 11"'<'oon. Cu ..... "h· I..,hanon', in.fftU ........ 1 "."'It>.' ...... .. 'hre"""" ,hot ("~""'" ",hi< (""_"'I,"" ,he ....... n-,,., '" C. J'fU" 'h<OUj:h "h"h Bou ... ~n' ~dmJnl'd ~ hllI,Ie_-k "otJld Ot:t:ur ,( ,hc~ " •• a 1.1"" ~"llXtn' of 1r~F! ... a. would he d,., ,·a,.. ,j J(' "c~ ,n"oJu.(d. Thc (.Jdm<» "Jbl~ JI.., Ic.,-c' I..eb.",,," .t ,he t1l<'0- 01 (.'-pnl> for m,t,n.",,,,·

.,1 Nnd"oJ,h. Th"" '''"'''''u' ~, ,,,,,,I-le h., httn ",,",,;n~ t>c"', ..... ,h,· "''' ,,,uml"l<'> o'~' J

m.ln,m1c ,,,,,,,,>rtf,, ",n.· ~~...-.:"",n' bn" ... n e,f""'.oJ 1"...,1.

OIfi.:;~1 dna ,. n", .'l,I.I-lc. I-u, mn" f"<

"mJ'<",> an; ,h.:!" 1 cl-an"" .. 'U"tntl~ u"n~ 1. ~ J:,~I-n, ,Gh, of ~I Nnd",d,h. 11""e'·c,. I\o'u"~n' "." Ih., Iht 1...1.1"" ... ,.I-I~ h~ 40 «h Ha,lablc lor U'K .tln ," 'e<en, ul'1;,.Jc_ l\IFWU ha. an ;nll,.1 30 (;I- .1Ild < •• n hc up· da'cd '0 104 ,e •• lIII,. 1 hu ••. 1c"",d,ng rn H"ItJII.h. lel'allon .... -u".ntl~- I-I')ek,ng .,,-PC"'''' "f;" ,111,," ... ,on.1 ItJlld ... ,d,h.

In ",de. '03m'-ote ,h. 1\11·\1:'1 I ".I-lc II" "<,CS,H)- '0 10J'; omo ,h. con~"'''um', ""tm "uh a >« •• , ,od •. "-h,,h ... ""d,nJ'; 'n a ,un_ ..... tllum SOu',;, .. <tIme,h,ng onll , ·.,u,.d h •• 'M d"u,l, of. AI:-',n Ynu .... 1 d,d nO! ''''I''ond '0 •• pt.,«1 rflIUC'" (0. com"",,, •.

- \\:. JU,d a"". I fir ..... m. S il on,llion and ". n. nOf ">lng j"l ht.:a,,1t' oot(" p" ...... n I' ou, ... f1 "'r< '1 d",,', ",n' ",' .nd ,hc ,,,II ..... · '" ~ ,nft .... , 1>«0""" ,,,1-1"" '" onc pt ...... n.­""d ,h. lTU·. II.Ih.oun.

Acco.dmg ,0 1It,,,,,.,". ,he n",,,,,,,· ... '" a .omm.n,·.m.m o,dc' '" OGHtO '" ( ... ,Wt ,h. 1''''I~'' and h., ,'" .. ~,~cd (,,' ,h. ,,"'ncr­sh,p "f ,h. 1\IFWF_l '" fx, Itan.(c"c.J b"'k ''-' ,ho m''' .... )": ,hi~ " ... hat ' -"u .. '" h~~ rcfu .. d '0 .In. ·Th(fC ,,-e,~ S<)n'. p"o1'l. "h" w"~ '''p1',,",ng h"" ""III",~lIl. It uo..-d '" br (0'",'" P"rI\(" ~l,nis'.r Fou~d 5:I,,,o.~ bu. [ don', (h,nk ,ooa1 ,hal 5:ln'''"," ",II ,<),'.r h,",. W. hopt ,ha' Ih,. ,,"o,-.mrl\("n, ,,-,II hf, (h,. poill" ""I ro • ., ... ,.·c ClIn "",k." h. l;r,d,

Wha. "ill also nttd '0 o<·,u. IS 'M ntgo" .. · ,..,n of ~n a""C'C",,,n, wllh ~ I.~rol"'~n ope.aror '0 1'u..:h3'" cap;!c"y ,n o.d.r 10 "ansf •• ,nfor· m""on (,om ~1af'SC',lIc. I ,.ncr I .... h ... ,h. calli. end.) ..... ,h3" .. (f" 10 and from ,h • ...,~, "f ,h. w",ld "j" lu,olX" can CO"" ""0 ,hc c .. bl". Thc ~oon~ prtCO f", .",h ,,~ff,. " "ht"" Sl pcr mt~al>'1 PC' s«ond (Mhps) ptt mon,h. which n..,an~ ,h .. , 10Gb of cap;!CI'Y wonld ,-,"', .... ",. $20.000 PC' ",on,h. G"'cn ,h ••• ho <~Uub, nt!· "".k alon. );.n~r3'''''''''''' S1 ""II"nr " .. -h day ,n l.cI-~noo. ,h,. ' ... «'I .. ,,,d,- ,nn,nll ,,,m,

If lri>.1non "-.. nl> full .«Iund.n". on , .... 'M I:uropt:l" "de" ,tn. ,hc. <an ~I", IttgOl,a'. ,h. Uri\(" con"a" ,n Ind,~. a, .hc .. hie', ",her

• po,",. ""eh 1"I<\:,>{,a'K"" uk. ahl"" • ", .. ",h '" ''''''plc-tc h'" .,;:.>,n ,h" ,,0,,1.1 n«-..l '" g" ,h" .... "'h ' ou,...,/", "If",.~, ,h~ m,n,.'" ~, long .' hc rna"""",, ,,,,,,,,,,1 ,,[ ,he ""., 0' .1'1"«'0' go".,al. ",," •• helc ... 80,,,,,.,,, "" ,h. ,",n'

Page 7: Telecoms: Redialing discord?

""~. i~ In di .... -ct cont~er wuh h ;lI1ce Telccmn discussin!: ~lIch an agreement.

Si",e It W3< YOll5sd who negot,a,ed 'lOd CM­

ri~'<I um ,he 1~IEWE3 projn:t wi,h the consor· ,ium. when ,he ,de.:ommLln,c3uons mlnis,er ,umactctl ir, m3n3gemem commnt("(" 10 ff)· and .... ·R'SI conrrol of the cable, the consorflum bf-. C3 me prctlicrahly confused. In the end rhey de­cidcd to take a -hands off" approach, aoxordrng 10 the sourcc. Of <:()urS(' the fog of 1.ehanCst' laws. th~ir sr<:mingl~· inconsistcm applica tion. and ,h ... au'onom~· of public inslUmions. espe­ciaJly OGERO. has nO! helpetl.

··Yous§ef !;em a leu{'r 10 ,he oonso".ium ,ellrng them no, ,0 hand litl o'·cr to ,hc minlStcr. and he doc-s no, ha'·e ,h,· right tf) do $fl." said l!.oust:!ni. Hc would nOt comment on wheth~r the mi11lstrr would takc legal action as a rLosult.

E,·en if th~ consortium is con·

But "hile You"cr may be n malor m.ld· block '0 hener [uu."rl1<:'. ",her p"'lects w,lI al­so need to be comp!cICtllU ~ec rhe sector re.1ch an acceptablc I(lob;'ll srJlltlartl. According ro Jean Gebran, IlrujCCtS tlir~-clOr :lr Consolrtlated Engrneering and TrJ tling Comp~nr (CET). th~ Court of 1\"OUnt5. the go,·crnmenr's puhlic sotetor auditor. ga,'e final approval in "br to a project to construcT The tciecommunications mm,Stry"s $40 ",illio" f;!xr·optic backbone throughout ,he cOllmry. CET antl A!ca,ci will earr~· om thc projC<T. which has already begun in Ihe South antl,he &kaa ,·allq·. It is expect­ed ro r;'lke 16 ,0 24 momhs 10 cOmpie,e, ae· cording to Gcbran.

",nced to tran$lN comrul, the procedure stipulates Ihm when OGERO hands comrol o[ ,hc ca· hie o>"(r ,0 ,he minisTr~· i, ini,ial· I ~· docs so through ,he Direc· Torate of Opcnuions and Maimc· nanee. whose head Stamps thc hando,·cr and transfers the asset

l'urthnmore.the ·laS! milc' conncction from the fiber to homts will also nccd 10 be complcr­ed. BUI III the short-tum. en'n w;lhou! theS<'

projects, 3G se,,·ict can lechni­cally nlll antl 3110w speeds in The range of 2l Mbps, compared 10 ,be current average of O. I ,.:-ven if ,his may kill private s«!or par­ItClp;lIion in rhe stetor.

Mit is very diffi(ult if you ride 0 donkey to reo(h 0 high summit,

even if you (house the direction" Time lor action

1Cl Ihe minister"s office. As YousS<'f himself holds ,hal POSt. there seems TO be $Cam chancc of th31 hapl"K'ning.

According ,0 Bouslani. a, ,he m("("fing of ,\rab TelecommunicaTions miniSlCrs hcltl in !lei rUI last month thc minisrr~· rn:ci,·cd nnpor­TJ nt political backing thar he thinks will sec ,he IMEWF..J hando\"Cr 5oon. "I!hough th,s loultl nOt be ind~pendenrly '·erifi~d. Th,s woultl nOT soh'{' 1.eb3non·s Imernet wOf"~ 0111-·'gh" however. "Even if I"HoWE3 is 3C1i,·aT~tl.

",hJ' UiK will il h3'·c if Ih.:- m,n,stry of Ielecommunications sells Ihc imernational EI I,nc 12 Mbpsi 10 IprivaTc seCtori sen· ice rrovitlers for $3.000. while COSf< On thcm 's

.5 than $30?" a.ketl Tarahay. "The [mernet ~USI to (hc consumer will rc­

la 'n high.- he said. 1I"les~ the pri~e of El fall s 'nci In,erneT S<-n·ice Providas (I$Ps) ha,·e ae­'"'5 ,0 ,he balltlwitl th. Lowering prices re­~'lI res a decree 10 be issuctl by the cahineT m'­'."JM' Ihe sector is srill nOT libcralil .• ·tl as per 1.1W 431. Bandwitlth will then need 1(' be h.'nded out by the m"'istrr under Ihe direc­t"rale general of opemtions and maimenance - agam YOIISsef'S office.

Wilh a new cabintt and a new minster that are hulh Tcchnically on ,he same sitle. there is some renewed hope amongs, Those in ,he sector rh~ ! rhe coming periOtl will b., less fraughl wilh connier. A go'·ernmenr of a single color m~l" be more williug IU scc of( some of the old opposition guard (Starr;ng '\lth Youssef). bur who ther cboosc as a replacemcnt i~ entirely nnothcr maltc!. and whal the market will look like af· t'·r any reshuffle of inSTitu tions. laws antl peo· pic mal' JUSt Clltl lip resul ting in ,h.:- same Stag· nallon chat has plagllCtl the intlus!f)· for o,·cr 15 yeats.

"It is very tlifficuh if you ridc a tlonke)' ro reach a h'gh summil. evcn if lOU choose the tli· rection; said lluhsoun, referring ro Lcbanon·$ tdecom polic)· tlttision makers. ~It"s impossi· ble to reach it If )·011 let the donkey chouse the wa~·. Howe,·cr. if you earry th~ tlonke~· you will die. We arc slill cnrry"'g cionkc)·s and paying for Thcrr fflOtl."

But tOO.l)" one side of ,he political di, ide call no longer hlame rhe mher for obscructing puliq· implemenr.llion. ~ YOII don', h~"c 1""0 sides un~··

more so you don·t h,yC ~11)'ol1e 10 dclay.w s3.itl, Bolls'3ni. Thu<. Ihere:lre no more ~X~lIseS. "

ll
Highlight
ll
Highlight
ll
Highlight