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Fixed Lines Revenues in Lebanon to Drop
To Reach US$ 341.8 Million by 2009

DUBLIN, IRELAND (Aug. 4, 2005) According to a new Research and Markets report, Lebanon’s telecom sector is set to have an operational regulator soon charged with implementing wide reaching telecom sector reforms along international best practices. Political uncertainty and turmoil had for long stagnated what was once the Arab world’s most thriving telecom (esp. cellular) market. Barring further political and security turmoil, Lebanon’s telecom sector is slated for major changes in the next few years.

Lebanon is moving towards separation between regulation and operation in the telecom sector. On March 15, 2001, a new telecom law was proposed by the Ministry of Telecommunications (MoT) to the council of ministers. Telecom Act no. 431, which was approved by the parliament on July 22, 2002, aims at reforming the telecom sector by creating a separate regulatory body and a telecom operator (Liban Telecom- which will then be able to exploit its third GSM license). By July 2005, the TRA board members were still not appointed which is a prerequisite before moving to convert the fixed line operator OGERO into a government owned company called Liban Telecom. This will be followed by Liban Telecom privatization, which will then be followed by liberalizing the market.

Fixed lines revenues are expected to drop by a CAGR of 1.8% between the years 2005-2009 to reach US$ 341.8 million by yearend 2009.

Source: Research and Markets (researchandmarkets.com)