A damaged car next to a destroyed building following an Israeli air strike that targeted the Lebanese village of Zeghrine in the Hermel region, Nov. 10, 2024. (Credit: Sam Skaineh/AFP)
On Sunday, outgoing telecommunications minister Johnny Corm warned that “the internet in Lebanon is at risk” amid an intensified Israeli offensive against Hezbollah that has been ongoing since late September. In response, Corm informed L’Orient-Le Jour on Monday that he is in talks with two European companies to establish an alternative satellite-based internet system, and not solely with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and its Starlink service.
The Starlink system — which was activated last July in a hospital in the Gaza Strip amid the war with Israel — was discussed with economic authorities. However, its adoption is being hindered by “two major obstacles,” the minister explained: “The first is security-related — I did not receive written authorization — and the second is commercial.”
During negotiations with the American company, “the discussion has evolved, initially focusing on pricing and previously negotiated discounts, as well as certain technical aspects.” “The company now claims it cannot provide us with the data and insists that we install servers in Qatar or Germany,” he added. This requirement would violate Law No. 81, which governs the protection of personal data.
“Security services have raised concerns about the use of Starlink, particularly regarding data protection,” explained Abed Kataya, head of the media program at SMEX, an organization dedicated to promoting a free internet in the Middle East. He pointed out that other alternatives are available, particularly in Europe, which the minister has mentioned, although they seem more expensive. “All satellite solutions would be routed through Ogero, Lebanon’s fixed-line provider, rather than distributing individual devices, to secure public connectivity,” the minister confirmed. “We are currently negotiating with other companies, including France's SES and the U.S.'s Oneweb.”
Exclusive internet rights for the Lebanese state
For organizations like SMEX, engaging with the Starlink system requires compliance with Law No. 431 of 2002, which grants exclusive internet rights to the Lebanese state. The concern is that SpaceX, lacking an office or legal status in Lebanon, might gain access to user data without any established legal framework.
On Sunday, Johnny Corm stated that “Lebanese airspace is open, allowing Israelis to move freely,” creating a cybersecurity risk for the country. Since the Israeli offensive on Sept. 23, surveillance drones have been constantly flying over many regions in Lebanon and geolocation signals are frequently disrupted. In an interview with the local television channel LBCI, Corm estimated that the Israeli offensive in Lebanon has rendered 175 Touch mobile operator stations out of service — 9 completely destroyed and 11 partially — and 161 stations of the other mobile operator, Alfa, also out of order. He specified that the destroyed stations are in Beirut’s southern suburbs, southern Lebanon and the Bekaa region — three areas heavily targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
Additionally, the minister announced that the state has reached an agreement with Microsoft to enable public school students and teachers to use Teams software even without an internet connection. “We are working on the mechanism,” he said. He added that he has submitted a proposal to the Cabinet to double internet speed and quality at the same rates used during the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to enhance service for the public.
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
*This article was updated on Nov. 12, 2024, to correct an error: negotiations with SpaceX for the installation of the Starlink satellite system in Lebanon are still ongoing.
