Boosting Lebanon’s internet speeds — as well as its GDP — would be surprisingly simple. The country has a new, multi million dollar fiber optic network that forms a backbone for data traffic. It is laying idle, however, because a few switches needed to pass information have not been flipped. That is, the fiber optic cables are laid, connecting the central offices (COs) together and with heavy users. COs operate like traditional telephone switchboards and route content to end users and other COs. The dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) machines — technology that combines several data channels into the same pulse of light — are in the COs, waiting to be used. But the network is off. There is no data traveling through the cables. “The [network] that was implemented last year isn’t being used at all. It hasn’t been accepted by our services,” affirms Margot Moussy, advisor to Minister
Interesting piece. I think we need more detail on what went wrong when the digging. I heard it was Khatib Alami that was doing the work (but they are not mentioned in the piece) and there were major issues. with their work How did that happen and who is accountable for that? It shouldn’t be left and he said/she said. Are there no official procedures and documents?
Also I have recently reported on my site about the new cabinets that are being installed in Hamra with fiber cables. These will serve CCTV cameras but I was told they also may serve homes and increase internet speeds: http://www.beirutreport.com/2015/03/fiber-on-the-way.html Did the ministry not comment on this project, which is digging up the streets of Ras Beirut right now?
Livia MurrayMarch 31, 2015 - 2:52 PM
Dear Habib,
As we indicated in our coverage, the Ministry of Telecommunication representatives we spoke with confirmed to us that the contractors were CET in partnership with Alcatel-Lucent.
As for the issues regarding the work on the fiber-optic backbone, our editorial policy does not allow us to report from hearsay or unconfirmed rumors and we therefore will pursue this matter as soon as there are official outcomes from the judicial process.
Comments are closed.
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2 comments
Interesting piece. I think we need more detail on what went wrong when the digging. I heard it was Khatib Alami that was doing the work (but they are not mentioned in the piece) and there were major issues. with their work How did that happen and who is accountable for that? It shouldn’t be left and he said/she said. Are there no official procedures and documents?
Also I have recently reported on my site about the new cabinets that are being installed in Hamra with fiber cables. These will serve CCTV cameras but I was told they also may serve homes and increase internet speeds: http://www.beirutreport.com/2015/03/fiber-on-the-way.html Did the ministry not comment on this project, which is digging up the streets of Ras Beirut right now?
Dear Habib,
As we indicated in our coverage, the Ministry of Telecommunication representatives we spoke with confirmed to us that the contractors were CET in partnership with Alcatel-Lucent.
As for the issues regarding the work on the fiber-optic backbone, our editorial policy does not allow us to report from hearsay or unconfirmed rumors and we therefore will pursue this matter as soon as there are official outcomes from the judicial process.
Comments are closed.