Salam: Starlink is an additional option to ensure communication continuity, with no exclusivity for the service in Lebanon

Prime Minister Dr. Nawaf Salam held a meeting at the Grand Serail today at 3:00 PM, attended by Minister of State for Administrative Development Dr. Fadi Makki, Director General of Investment and Maintenance at the Ministry of Telecommunications Basel Al-Ayoubi representing Minister of Telecommunications Charbel Hajj, Head of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Dr. Jenny Al-Jamil, Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Alfa" and its General Manager Rafiq Al-Haddad, along with several members of the authority and company officials and staff. The meeting was dedicated to reviewing the "Starlink" satellite internet service, which Alfa has begun providing to companies and institutions in its first phase.

President Salam said: "When we decided last year to secure the Starlink service, the primary goal was to provide this service to areas lacking telecommunications infrastructure. This itself acts as a catalyst for development and economic cycles, serving as a confidence indicator for investors regarding continuous and fast communications."

He added: "This service is not a replacement for existing core networks but rather an additional option that allows us to deal with scenarios of communication interruptions or any emergency that may affect their continuity. No entity, especially commercial institutions, local investors, or potential investors, should find themselves threatened by loss of communication due to any interruption in telecommunications services."

He continued: "It is certain that this service does not exempt us from the necessity of continuing to develop existing networks and strengthen their infrastructure, but it provides important additional options for commercial institutions, whether those currently operating in Lebanon or those considering investing there in the future."

He further stated: "This step comes at a crucial time, allowing companies to ensure continuity of communication with their partners and clients, both inside and outside Lebanon, and enhancing their ability to continue business without being affected by connection outages. This constitutes a positive factor for boosting investor confidence and providing a more stable environment for business continuity."

In response to a question, President Salam pointed out that "there is no exclusivity for the Starlink service, as evidenced by the existence of the OneWeb service, with whom we are also conducting negotiations to provide a competing service in terms of purpose, although different in nature and mechanism, but offering similar solutions to Starlink."

For his part, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Alfa" said: "We thank the Prime Minister for his interest and support of us at Alfa, and thanks are also extended to the Minister of Telecommunications Charbel Hajj for close cooperation in our digital vision. Alfa is committed to principles of good governance, financial and administrative transparency, and places great importance on diversifying means of providing telecommunications services, based on its commitment to ensuring service access for Lebanese citizens and its continuity through multiple and integrated solutions."

He added: "In this framework, the company is working to adopt additional solutions, particularly in areas facing coverage and connectivity challenges, thereby enhancing network resilience and its ability to meet subscriber needs and ensure connection continuity even under the most difficult conditions. Connecting Lebanon is not limited to introducing the latest technology but also includes ensuring connection continuity in the most needy areas. Despite the damage sustained by the network during the war, we succeeded in raising readiness in the south from 70 percent to 90 percent, deploying seven mobile communication stations benefiting more than 125,000 subscribers in over 30 southern towns. Restoring connectivity to these areas is an essential part of our national responsibility and our commitment to connecting Lebanon across all its regions."

He continued: "What we are implementing today is not separate projects but an integrated vision for digital transformation spanning four years, in cooperation and coordination with the Ministry of Telecommunications, including updating network infrastructure, introducing fifth-generation technologies, developing digital services, and employing artificial intelligence in network management and subscriber services, aiming to translate technological advancement into tangible services that facilitate the lives of Lebanese people."

He said: "Alfa has succeeded in increasing its transfers to the Lebanese treasury by 14 percent during 2025 and expects to achieve an additional increase of 10 percent in 2026. These financial results reflect the importance of the telecommunications sector's role in the national economy and prove that investment in network and service development can go hand in hand with strengthening contributions to state revenues."

He added: "Despite losing about 150 engineers among Alfa's talents during the crisis years, our Lebanese teams continued to ensure network continuity, development, and the launch of new services and technologies. The human element remains fundamental regardless of how much technology evolves, and investing in Lebanese talent is no less important than investing in the latest systems and networks."

He concluded: "The true value of technology is measured not only by its advancement but by its ability to reach people and make a difference in their lives. This is the essence of our vision, which we summarize today under the title 'Lebanon, Connected'."

Alfa distributed information about the service stating: "Alfa signed the official distribution agreement with Starlink on September 18, 2026, after completing the required regulatory and security approvals.

The first phase included government institutions, diplomatic missions, hospitals, and humanitarian associations. The service was activated for 37 entities, covering 20 ministries, public institutions, and security apparatuses, including Ogero and the Central Bank of Lebanon, in addition to 11 hospitals, 3 embassies, 2 non-governmental organizations, and the municipality of Rmeish. The first activation of the service was recorded for the municipality of Rmeish.

The service expanded in the second phase to include qualified private sector companies and institutions, where the number of companies subscribing to Starlink services via Alfa exceeded 100 companies to date.

Alfa requested 500 additional devices to meet the needs of companies registered on the waiting list.

Alfa dedicated a page on its website allowing companies to submit subscription requests and choose appropriate packages.

Packages dedicated to the service: A monthly package of 500 gigabytes valued at $2,100 annually, and a monthly package of 1 terabyte valued at $3,588 annually, plus a one-time device cost of $550. Subscriptions are paid annually in advance. Prices do not include Value Added Tax.

Alfa provides technical support in coordination with Starlink, with a 12-month warranty for the device.

The approved licensing framework stipulates allocating 25 percent of Starlink subscription revenues to the Lebanese state separately from device sales, providing an additional source of public revenue."