Minister of Telecommunications Tours South Lebanon to Assess Network Rehabilitation

Minister of Telecommunications Charles Al-Hajj conducted an on-site inspection across several southern Lebanese areas, including Sidon, Nabatieh, and Tyre. He reviewed the telecommunications sector's status and the progress of restoring damaged networks and infrastructure caused by the Israeli aggression, visiting centers operated by the Ogero Authority and the mobile companies Touch and Alfa.

The minister began his tour at the Ogero center in Sidon, accompanied by directors from the ministry, Ogero, and the two mobile operators. He then proceeded to visit an Alfa store and a Touch service center in the city, where he assessed operational workflows and the quality of services provided to subscribers. Al-Hajj emphasized that Lebanon's future must be based on development and stability rather than wars, underscoring the collective responsibility to secure a better future for coming generations.

Following this, Al-Hajj traveled to the Ogero center in Nabatieh and visited the Shaqif Municipalities Union headquarters. There, he was welcomed by Khaled Badruddin, head of the Shaqif Municipalities Union, and Member of Parliament Hani Qubaisi. The minister highlighted the launch of the FTTH fiber optic project in Sidon as a fulfillment of a promise made a year earlier, noting that part of the project’s funding was secured from savings achieved in 2025. He pointed out that providing high-speed internet is a fundamental pillar for attracting investments, advancing universities, and creating job opportunities.

Al-Hajj stated, "At the Ministry of Telecommunications, we have shed the blood of our martyrs, alongside the Lebanese army, security agencies, and many who have fallen," offering condolences to all families affected. He affirmed that while life is priceless, efforts must continue for the public good to ensure that these sacrifices are not in vain.

The minister then visited the Lebanese Army headquarters at Bourj Al-Shamali, where he met with Brigadier General Nikolaos Tabet, commander of the South Litani sector. Al-Hajj expressed deep gratitude to the army for its role during the war and its assistance to ministry teams in supplying fuel to transmission stations and supporting repair crews working to maintain network functionality despite the challenging conditions. He stressed the ministry’s commitment to enhancing network quality and expanding coverage to ensure better services for citizens.

His tour also included visits to the mobile communication on wheels (CoW) stations operated by Touch and Alfa near the Lebanese Italian Hospital and the Al-Housh area, where he reviewed their role in compensating for out-of-service stations.

Minister Al-Hajj affirmed that all Lebanese state institutions stand with the people of the South. He emphasized that the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister, government members, and all official administrations and agencies have been and will remain alongside the residents in facing challenges despite difficulties.

He added, "The Lebanese remain the true support for their fellow citizens, beyond any interests," noting that the government initiated a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate damaged facilities immediately after the cessation of hostilities, following intensive meetings held at the Grand Serail and the Ministry of Telecommunications.

Al-Hajj thanked the sector’s workforce, describing them as unsung heroes who worked day and night to prepare a plan whose effectiveness became evident as services were restored to 90% of their pre-war levels. He praised the efforts of directors and employees of the Ministry of Telecommunications, Ogero, and the two mobile companies, who managed to repair most accessible damages despite difficult circumstances.

The minister concluded his tour with a visit to the Ogero center in Tyre and a meeting at the Tyre municipality with the district governor and local mayors, where Member of Parliament Ali Khreis received him.

During the meeting, Al-Hajj confirmed the continuation of repairing remaining damages in cooperation with the Lebanese Army, which supports field teams. He considered this achievement, under exceptional conditions, as evidence of the state's presence and the effectiveness of its institutions despite significant financial and security challenges.

He concluded by reaffirming the government’s strong commitment to reconstruction, service provision, and future building, stressing that the South remains a priority and that efforts will continue to restore the region to a better state across various aspects.

Throughout the tour, data regarding the telecommunications networks in the South were presented to Minister Al-Hajj. It was shown that Alfa operates 175 stations across southern districts, with 122 stations (approximately 70%) functioning normally, 33 stations (19%) completely damaged, and 20 stations (11.5%) either out of service or inaccessible. Touch’s network in the South includes 207 stations, with 163 stations (78.8%) operating normally, 26 stations (12.6%) fully damaged, and 15 stations (7.2%) out of service due to inaccessibility, in addition to 3 mobile CoW stations.

The unified status of both networks was also reviewed, revealing that 94 stations are currently non-operational, including 35 located in restricted access areas. Six mobile stations are connected to both networks—three for Touch and three for Alfa—to ensure service continuity in affected areas.

Regarding the fixed telecommunications sector, data indicated that Ogero’s network comprises 82 telephone exchanges in the South, with 59 exchanges (72%) functioning normally, 7 exchanges (8.5%) completely damaged, and 16 exchanges (19.5%) still out of service due to their location in restricted zones.