The premises of the public internet and fixed-line telephony provider Ogero, on June 28, 2024, in Sour, South Lebanon. (Credit: Matthieu Karam/L'Orient-Le Jour)
The Lebanese government is reportedly losing more than $100 million a year because of illegal internet networks. According to a July 19 report, which L’Orient-Le Jour reviewed, the fifth chamber of the Court of Audit estimates that these networks caused a net annual loss of $128.8 million in public revenue.The scale of the problem is considerable and well known to the authorities. As early as March 2009, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) warned against unlicensed operators who leased services from authorized companies before redistributing them illegally. Contrary to popular belief, the connection itself is not necessarily illegal. Rather, the illegality lies in its redistribution through an unauthorized network. In 2024, the Telecommunications Ministry identified 638 illegal networks operating in the country, and in July...
The Lebanese government is reportedly losing more than $100 million a year because of illegal internet networks. According to a July 19 report, which L’Orient-Le Jour reviewed, the fifth chamber of the Court of Audit estimates that these networks caused a net annual loss of $128.8 million in public revenue.The scale of the problem is considerable and well known to the authorities. As early as March 2009, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) warned against unlicensed operators who leased services from authorized companies before redistributing them illegally. Contrary to popular belief, the connection itself is not necessarily illegal. Rather, the illegality lies in its redistribution through an unauthorized network. In 2024, the Telecommunications Ministry identified 638 illegal networks operating in the country, and in...
Israel continues airstrikes, demolitions, destruction across southern Lebanon