LebNet is frequently called upon to contribute to economic development efforts in Lebanon and to support the country’s technology and entrepreneurship ecosystem in ways that foster innovation and create job opportunities. While LebNet remains committed to engaging in initiatives that serve these goals, significant structural challenges—particularly in infrastructure—continue to present serious obstacles. Many of these issues require urgent government action.
In light of this, LebNet felt compelled to formally appeal to Lebanon’s Ministry of Telecommunications on behalf of the Lebanese tech diaspora.
On July 29th, 2025, Habib Haddad, Chair of LebNet’s Board of Directors, personally delivered the following open letter to Minister of Telecommunications Charles Hage:
Your Excellency Minister of Telecom Charles Hage,
We, members of LebNet, a collective of professionals, entrepreneurs, academics, and development advocates from Lebanon living abroad, write with an urgent and heartfelt appeal. With the Lebanese diaspora accounting for more than 30% of Lebanon’s GDP, and as citizens deeply committed to the advancement of our homeland, we are ready and willing to contribute our expertise, networks, and capital to support Lebanon’s national development. However, we cannot do so effectively without a robust and modern broadband infrastructure which, in turn, is critically dependent on efficient and cost-effective electric power distribution, trust through transparency, best practices in cybersecurity, and democratization of access and competition.
The Challenge
Reliable, high-speed internet access is no longer a luxury - it is a critical enabler of economic growth, education, governance, innovation, and inclusion. Unfortunately, broadband access in Lebanon remains extremely limited and users today pay some of the highest data rates compared to the region and Europe. This digital bottleneck is stifling entrepreneurship, deterring investment, limiting youth potential, and seriously undermining our country's ability to compete in today's digital economy.
The Opportunity
Investing in broadband infrastructure will create a multiplier effect across multiple sectors including:
- Enabling Lebanon’s public and private sectors the opportunity to participate in, and benefit from, the Artificial Intelligence fundamental transformations.
- Entrepreneurship and job creation through online businesses, digital money exchanges, remote work, and innovation hubs.
- Attract foreign capital and encourage investments by multinationals seeking new growth markets.
- Expanded access to quality education and global knowledge, especially in rural areas.
- Improved healthcare delivery via telemedicine and digital health systems.
- Enhanced agricultural productivity and industrial competitiveness through digital tools.
- Direct diaspora engagement in development efforts offering mentorship, launching businesses, and attracting global investment.
Our Position
We are prepared to channel our resources - financial, intellectual, and institutional - into projects that support inclusive, tech-driven growth. However, this is only viable with functioning, scalable digital infrastructure efficiently run by accountable and professional organizations. Without a national broadband backbone, our ability to contribute will remain limited to symbolic rather than transformative engagement.
Current Situation
We understand this to be as follows:
- Memorandum of Understanding between Ministry Of Telecom (MOT) and licensed Data Service Providers (DSP) for joint use of conduits, revenue share, access to Central Offices etc. as well as subject matter decrees and protocols are already in place.
- Fiber deployment in 2017 with OGERO and licensed Data Service Providers (DSP) initiating fiber deployment in various areas including the greater Beirut, Metn and Tripoli to corporate and end users with very good high speed internet service. Unfortunately, this deployment was halted thereafter in 2020.
- Proliferation of illegal and unlicensed internet service providers, locally known as “cable distributors”, using public, state-owned infrastructures, to deploy their own fiber and collect from an estimated 700,000 to 1 million end users for poor internet and pirated satellite TV services, thus depriving the Lebanese state millions of dollars in lost revenues as well as breaking the law.
Our Appeal
We respectfully urge the government to make broadband infrastructure a national priority by developing a master plan that includes the following elements:
- Expanding broadband access to fiber in the major metropolitan areas. This includes quick implementation by the Ministry of Telecom of the existing decrees, protocols and Memorandum of Understanding between OGERO and licensed DSPs.
- Urgently rolling out country-wide mobile 5G
- Unlocking government exclusivity on International connectivity
- With the Ministry of Telecom approval, resuming fiber deployment through OGERO and the licensed private sector. It is our understanding that with many buildings already connected to fiber, broadband footprint deployment could be increased by at least 400,000 subscribers in an expedited time table.
- Developing concurrently a clear, time-bound National Broadband Strategy involving the Telecom Regulatory Authority and implementing telecom law 431 passed in 2002 and addressing the unsustainable status of the estimated thousands of illegal and unlicensed “cable distributors” pursuant to best practices for an economy our size.
- Incentivizing private sector participation through transparent public-private partnerships.
- Expeditiously introducing Starlink services with competitive negotiated rates and within proper regulatory and commercial frameworks. This will provide much needed redundancy for businesses as well as being a catalyst for overall competitive data rates.
- Creating a competitive, innovation-friendly regulatory framework and ensuring affordability and quality of service for end users.
In response to meaningful progress on that master plan reviewed through regular quarterly touch points, We would commit to convening a Diaspora Technology & Investment Forum within the next 6 months to align diaspora capacity with the government's digital goals.
Conclusion
The future of Lebanon will be defined by its connectivity not just physical infrastructure, but digital inclusion. We stand ready, willing and able to help build this future. Let us work together to ensure our country is not left behind in the digital century.
With respect and commitment,
LebNet Board of Directors
