Cabinet Renews Contracts of Two Mobile Operators

The cabinet agreed on Tuesday to renew the contracts of the two mobile operating companies hours before they expired at midnight, according to newspapers.

Ministers loyal to Progressive Socialist Party leader MP Walid Jumblat and Economy Minister Nicolas Nahhas expressed reservations on the renewal of the contract without referring it to the Audit Bureau.

The cabinet tasked Telecommunications Minister Nicolas Sehnaoui with signing the contracts with MTC touch and Alfa, delivering a report that evaluates the new deal and the old one, proposing a strategic plan, making preparations for an international tender to operate the two networks within four months, and completing the organization of the telecom regulatory authority.

Sehnaoui told As Safir newspaper published on Wednesday, that Prime Minister Najib Miqati “hailed the conditions set by the renewal contracts.”

“I pledged to present the cabinet with a report every three months on the implementation of the plan,” he said, adding that he would also deliver a report on “a plan concerning the work of the sector.”

“An international tender will also be launched which will allow the renewal for the companies under certain conditions,” Sehnaoui said.

According to the new conditions, the two companies will have to implement the national plan to improve the quality of service which includes buying 400 new stations and setting 1,200 antennas.