Public operator Ogero announced on Monday that new fixed telephony and Internet tariffs will come into effect on Sept. 1, 2023. (Credit: Ogero social media)
BEIRUT — A sevenfold increase in telecoms prices will come into effect on Sept. 1, in line with a recent Cabinet decision to raise fixed-line telephone and internet bills, public provider Ogero announced Monday.
Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati approved the new prices during an Aug. 3 Cabinet session where ministers also discussed the 2023 draft budget.
Ogero did not specify in Monday's announcement whether the rate increases concerned fixed telephone service or Internet. Ogero has posted the new figures on its website, and it appears that they concern Internet only.
Caretaker Telecoms Minister Johnny Corm did not respond to requests for comment.
However, in a statement earlier this month, Corm said that 60 percent of the office's 280,000 subscribers subscribed to the basic 80 GB and 100 GB internet subscriptions. The prices of these subscriptions, respectively LL60,000 and LL90,000 per month (less than a dollar at the current market rate), have risen to LL420,000 and LL630,000 (less than $7), in the new pricing structure. The most expensive packages (2 and 1.5 TB) are worth between LL5.2 and 6.3 million.
This is the second rate increase in just over a year. On July 1, 2022, the Ministry of Telecoms raised all telecom tariffs, fixed and mobile. Until that date, they had remained aligned on the former official exchange rate of LL1,507.5 to the dollar, which by then was already long outdated on the market.
Corm previously told L'Orient-Le Jour that this increase was essential to enable Ogero to cover all its operating costs, excluding salaries.