Israel is bombing your digital rights as well
Amid the current threat of a full-scale war, Lebanese citizens are at risk of losing more internet connectivity and digital freedom. On one hand they are being bombarded by fake news but moreover there are serious concerns that Israel might cut Lebanon’s connection to the world by bombing the undersea cable that provides access to the internet. The fear of Lebanon losing internet connectivity is rooted in a complex interplay of political instability, infrastructural inadequacies, and external threats. As the country grapples with ongoing crises, the potential for a complete or partial internet blackout looms large, posing severe economic and social repercussions. The Lebanese government reported mass losses in the telecom sector as a result of constant and indiscriminate Israeli bombardment across the country. Intelligence services have also uncovered over 280 fake evacuation calls, causing more panic among people.
There are also other ways in which internet access can be disrupted. The telecommunications switching gear required needs a supply of diesel. Lebanon’s internet infrastructure is notoriously outdated and fragile. The country relies heavily on two main submarine cables: CADMOS and I-ME-WE, which connect it to the global internet. Any disruption to these cables could lead to significant connectivity issues. In 2012, maintenance work on the CADMOS cable resulted in a two-day internet blackout for users, highlighting the vulnerability of Lebanon’s internet access. Currently, Ogero, Lebanon’s state-run telecom provider, has assured that redundancy measures are in place to mitigate risks; however, concerns remain about the operational and maintenance costs of terrestrial infrastructure that supports these connections. The ongoing energy crisis exacerbates these issues. Ogero’s facilities require substantial power—23 megawatts daily—primarily sourced from generators due to frequent electricity shortages. This reliance on fuel has led to soaring operational costs, with fuel bills reaching Usd2 million per month
Warnings and threats
Digital rights activists have underlined that Israel is putting Lebanese’s digital freedom and rights at stake as thousands of AI generated pictures have been invading networks and social media channels. And now there are fresh fears over the security of the telecommunications network after Israel used it to stoke fear by sending tens of thousands of warning messages. Residents in Lebanon received automated telephone messages and text messages warning them to evacuate their homes, which are likely to have been orchestrated by Israel, over 80,000 such calls were made. They were not just received in southern Lebanon, toward the border with Israel, where the attacks were being made. Residents of the town of Ghazieh near Sidon received landline calls from Israel, ordering them to leave their homes immediately.
A fabricated image of the Middle East Airlines civilian plane flying near a violent airstrike has been shared extensively on social media. Many users have posted or reshared the photo on social media, raising concerns about passengers’ safety. Beirut is the only airport in the country, and it continues to operate daily with flights to and from Lebanon. This is not the first misleading image of its kind, and, likely, it won’t be the last. SMEX advises users to verify the authenticity of news or images from reliable sources before publishing or sharing them, especially given how misinformation is often used to incite fear among people.
Also Lebanon’s General Security intercepted 288 evacuation threats that appeared fake in various regions, including Mount Lebanon, the South, Beirut, and the North, which are deemed “safe.” This is not the first time people have reported receiving such calls, particularly during widespread panic and fear.
Meta platforms have been implementing more censorship and content moderation by those sharing posts about Lebanon and Palestine on Meta’s platforms: Instagram, Facebook, and Whatsapp. Recently, it was also revealed that a former Israeli “government” official is working as Meta’s policy chief for Israel. She has reportedly pushed for banning accounts and posts expressing solidarity with Palestine on Instagram. This could suggest that suppressing some posts is systematic rather than an “algorithmic deficit,” as Meta has claimedThe current network hasn’t been updated since 2019, and Lebanon’s telecommunications have been compromised for years. Does this mean that if a full-scale war breaks out, Lebanon will face near-total internal paralysis and isolation from the outside world? Is there any alternative plan in place if telecommunications and internet services are cut off?
Ministry assessment
Minister of Communications Johnny Corm was quoted as saying that for the Touch operator, there are 175 stations out of service, including 9 completely destroyed and 11 partially damaged; Alfa Operator has 161 inactive stations. The destroyed stations are located in the suburbs, the south, and Bekaa.
To this day, the capacity of fiber optic networks reaching buildings, offices, and homes is limited to only 35,000 subscribers, whereas it was supposed to serve 800,000 subscribers. To this day, the capacity of fiber optic networks reaching buildings, offices, and homes is limited to only 35,000 subscribers, whereas it was supposed to serve 800,000 subscribers. The capacity of smart switches operating on IMS installed so far only covers 80,000 subscribers, even though a plan announced in 2020 promised 15 million lines,” he added.
Reportedly, Ogero and the two mobile network providers, Alfa and Touch, incurred an estimated $67 million in damages due to the ongoing Israeli war on Lebanon. Corm stated that damage to transmission and internet stations disrupted operations across the sector.
The Israeli occupation has been continuously bombing telecom infrastructure in different regions in Lebanon, even in areas it has designated as “safe.” On October 2, a cellular transmission station was hit in Beirut’s southern suburb.
More attacks have targeted telecom infrastructure in the South, where the Israeli military struck the “Awda” tower in Tyre. The first occurred on September 29, and the second on October 7, destroying a major internet service provider in that area.
Meanwhile, mobile networks in Lebanon still operate on 3G and 4G systems, with no 5G services, even though 5G entered global markets in 2021.
Another concern comes from the fact that the capacity of smart switches operating on IMS installed so far only covers 80,000 subscribers, even though a plan announced in 2020 promised 15 million lines,” Corm added.
Meanwhile, mobile networks in Lebanon still operate on 3G and 4G systems, with no 5G services, even though 5G entered global markets in 2021.
We have reached a Whitelisting agreement with Microsoft for Teams access for teachers and students in the public sector without internet by verifying their numbers.
Corm quoted that a decision to the Cabinet aimed at doubling internet speed and capacity at the same price, similar to measures during the COVID-19 pandemic was ditched last month.
We remain hopeful and are in contact with OneWeb and SES, which are similar to Starlink, he said.
The frequency used by Starlink differs from that of OneWeb and SES, providing faster service; our issue with them is security related to data.
Illegal Internet
Another concern comes from the mushrooming of illegal internet services and roasters. To this date the council of ministers is reluctant to take any action on curbing those irregularities.
Moreover, the political affiliations of local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) create an environment where market competition is stifled. Most ISPs are linked to politically exposed individuals, leading to inflated prices and poor service quality. This lack of competition means that any attempt to lower prices or improve services requires governmental intervention, which is often bogged down by bureaucracy and political maneuvering.
Total capacity distributed to ISPs equals 410 Gigabyte, they serve 943000 customers. However stunningly the declared number of subscribers is 137000, this underline that the undeclared subscribers are 805000 getting service from 90 legally formed ISPs serving more than 2000 illegal distributors across the geography he quoted. To note is that illegal “data transporters” are being creative in their thefts.
A 2022 audit by the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications found that 30% of the total internet capacity purchased by licensed ISPs was being resold to illegal operators, contributing to an annual loss of approximately Usd15 million in potential tax revenue. In many instances, licensed providers collude with illegal operators, either providing them with infrastructure access or selling them bandwidth at reduced rates.
No less than 60% of internet service providers in Lebanon are illegal and do not have a license. Web access is widespread in Lebanon, with 76% of the population having access to it, while one-third of the world’s population does not have this privilege (according to figures from 2022). According to estimates, around 600,000 people are reportedly subscribed to illegal networks. In figures, the state-run OT is selling internet services to around 100 legitimate and licensed distribution companies. It reported annual losses of approximately $25 million due to illegal competition, figures show.
According to a detailed report from the Audit Bureau on the telecommunications sector as of November 11, 2021, OT, has 280,000 subscribers, uses 92 gigabits per second (Gbps) of international capacity to cover their internet usage. OT discovered significant bandwidth theft by illegal operators, highlighting the vulnerabilities in its infrastructure. The Audit Bureau identified over 50 unlicensed ISPs operating in Lebanon, with an estimated combined market share of 20%. Despite clear recommendations for stricter enforcement and penalties, many of the Audit Bureau’s proposals have been ignored, allowing illegal activities to persist. In May 2022, the Lebanese government enacted Cabinet Decree No. 9458 to address the proliferation of illegal networks. This decree aimed to regularize illegal networks, but its implementation has been controversial. Regularization allowed illegal operators to apply for licenses retroactively, effectively legalizing their operations. Established revenue-sharing models that favored private entities, often at the expense of the state.
What about Starlink?
The regularization of Starlink network is Lebanon comes to the surface each time internet is disrupted. However, the main challenges in implementing Starlink in Lebanon include expensive services as monthly subscriptions start at 72 euros and equipment costs around 450 euros, making it unaffordable for many Lebanese citizens
There are also concerns about the legality of using a foreign satellite service without proper licensing, as current telecommunications laws prioritize state management over private companies. Fears also exist regarding user data privacy and potential political motives behind Starlink’s operations, especially given its U.S. origins and implications for surveillance
Lebanon’s weak telecommunications infrastructure complicates the effective deployment of satellite internet, and existing local services may not be able to compete with Starlink’s pricing and reliability
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Maan Barazy is an economist and founder and president of the National Council of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He tweets @maanbarazy.
The views in this story reflect those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of NOW
