An Ogero center in the Badaro district of Beirut. (Credit: Philippe Hage Boutros)
BEIRUT — The Lebanese public company Ogero, responsible for managing fixed-line telephony and internet services in Lebanon, issued a statement on Wednesday announcing a series of measures "to ensure the continuity of its services in the event of war against Lebanon."
This announcement comes as Hezbollah and Israel have been exchanging bombardments since the outbreak of the war between Hamas and the Israeli state on Oct. 7. The spillover of the conflict has affected southern Lebanon and has resulted in several casualties in Lebanon so far.
"The aim of these measures is to minimize potential service interruptions and ensure support for essential communications," the office explained.
Here are the measures announced:
Enhanced security protocols: "Strict security measures" have been taken "to protect our vital infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted service delivery," Ogero announced without providing specific details.
Redundancy and data backup systems: The office's network has been "strengthened with redundancy and backup systems to reduce downtime in case of unforeseen emergencies."
Emergency response teams: "Dedicated response teams are ready to handle any emergencies that may arise."
Collaboration with authorities: Ogero indicated that it is working "closely with local authorities and relevant agencies to ensure compliance with regulations and security directives, as well as to receive advice on necessary security measures."
Possibility of service interruption:
Ogero emphasized that in the event of war in Lebanon, there is a risk of network disruption, particularly due to potential "damage to infrastructure, limited access, power outages, or security considerations."
Priority services:
"In case of service disruption, priority will be given to communication services for emergency responders, such as the Red Cross, Civil Defense services, rescue teams, firefighters, medical and healthcare facilities, as well as military and security institutions, and other organizations responsible for the safety and security of society," the company explained.
In case of outages or technical issues, Ogero urges its customers to contact the office at the following email address: thepeople@ogero.gov.lb or at the following phone number: 1515.
When contacted by L'Orient-Le Jour, a source close to the matter explained that they are "unable to provide further clarification on these measures at the moment so that this information is not used by ill-intentioned individuals to undermine this plan."