| 23 Jul 2010 |
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Nahhas unveils new plan to install high-speed broadband across country
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23 July 2010
BEIRUT: Telecom Minister Charbel Nahhas unveiled a plan to install fiber optics and advanced broadband across the country within the coming 18 months on Thursday.
Speaking at a news conference at the Telecommunication MinistryTelecommunication Ministry
, Nahhas said that turning Lebanon’s telecom sector into a mere source of tax income had caused prices to rise and the network capacity to narrow, leaving the country lagging behind most others in terms of IT and technology.
He added that once the project materialized, Lebanon would enjoy fast internet service and advanced broadband.
A 10 percent increase in the penetration of broadband capacity can generate 1.35 percent GDP growth annually, an equivalent of LL600 billion ($400 million), according to a World Bank study.
Tax revenues from this service are expected to rise by LL140 billion a year.
“The tax revenue from the broadband service can cover the cost of the entire project in one year only,” Nahhas said.
He added that the government, which is committed to expanding the broadband service, is also keen to liberalize the sector and expand the use of internet and other related services to all of the country.
“This new technology which transfers data in the speed of light will open new doors for the use of the internet in houses, offices and companies. It will also open the door widely [for] economic development in every part of the country,” Nahhas said.
One of the projects will involve the installation of 15 MB capacity in 42 switch boards in greater Beirut and other provinces in addition to Tyre, Jounyeh and Byblos.
The heavy users include data companies, internet providers, some public institutions and ministries, banks, the two cellular companies, universities and others.
The project will cost $60 million and involve the installation of 710 kilometers of phone wires as well as 2,750 kilometers of fiber optics.
The deadline for completion of this phase is 16 months and the ministry will give the tender before the end of July 2010.
The second phase will see the electronic equipment placed in the new network, better known as Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexer (DWDM) technology.
The ministry is currently hammering out the conditions for the project, the cost of which will be $20 million, and the tender will be offered in September.
In the third phase, 100 active cabinets will be set up to link subscribers to 15 MB internet, at a cost of $2.5 million.
The fourth phase, called Active Cabinets, will include 1,000 units, covering 75 percent of the subscribers. The cost for this phase will be $25 million.
Nahhas also discussed the deployment of local phone networks with bigger capacities in the cities.
He added that this project, which has been commissioned to a local company, will cost $4.7 million and will be completed in 18 months.
Responding to a question, the minister said that in 12 to 18 months 75 percent of the internet subscribers in Lebanon will be able to enjoy the 15 MB high speed internet.
“I am not talking about the internet only but also the TV internet which is better known as IPTV. This service is beneficial for schools, universities and public services,” he said. – The Daily Star
© Copyright The Daily Star 2010.
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