(Credit: Joseph Eid/AFP)
BEIRUT — The “systematic theft” of equipment from transmitting stations owned by the Alfa telecommunications company has led to poor cellular network performance, including partial or total loss of voice call or internet services, for thousands of subscribers, Telecommunications Minister Johnny Corm said in a statement Friday, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• The minister’s statement said that “23 transmitting stations had been robbed between Oct. 27 and Dec. 3 in Abda, Barqa, Kfaraaka, Kfar Hatta, Meghraq (Tannourine-Laqlouq), Mahmra, Nourriyeh, Bire, Boqsmaiyya, Fakeha, Ehmej, Deir Janine, Kfar Harra, Wadi Khaled, Labboueh, Uyun Asamak, Masaoudiyeh, Munjez, Nfisseh, Rahbeh, Laqlouq, Tal Bibi and Deir Balleh” with some of the same stations having been burglarized up to three times.
• The statement lists the items most commonly sought by the thieves as “generator sets, batteries, fuel and renewable energy systems.”
• The minister called on security forces and the judiciary to assign a high priority to the issue and to take action to prevent further thefts, noting the consequences they’ve had on “the cellular network, subscribers, public finances and the national economy.”