Telecommunications in Lebanon

Overview

Lebanon has a well-developed telecommunications system, with several communication networks operating within the country. The country code and top-level domain for Lebanon is ".lb".

Telephone Network

The telephone network in Lebanon was severely damaged during the Lebanese Civil War but has been fully rebuilt and upgraded. As of available data, there are:

* 1,816,262 fixed lines, providing a relatively high fixed line penetration rate
* 4,890,534 mobile phones in use

The infrastructure for the telephone network includes nationally microwave and cable radio transmission stations, as well as internationally two Intelsat satellite ground stations, one microwave radio transmission station to Syria, and three international submarine fibre optic cables: I-ME-WE, CADMOS (to Cyprus), and BERYTAR (to Syria).

Mobile Network Operators

The executive arm of the Ministry of Telecommunications, "Ogero", is responsible for managing the basic infrastructure of all communication networks, including mobile network operators. The demand rate for landline phones is approximately 20.5%, while the rest are for mobile phone services with 2,916,000 users in Lebanon.

Radio and Television Broadcasting

Lebanon has an AM radio station and 32 FM radio stations, with 28 privately owned FM radio stations as of 2005. A FM station changes between French, Arabic, and English programming.

Regulation and Development

The Organizing Authority for Communications is responsible for regulating, organizing, and developing the communications sector in Lebanon. Communication services are a significant source of income for Lebanon, although they are also one of the most expensive in the world.