There is new movement in the telecommunications sector in the Middle East. That in itself does not reveal much concerning an industry that is in constant flux and virtually depends on permanent innovation, much more so than most other sectors. What adds flavor to the latest trends is that highly saturated markets are attracting players betting on the revenue opportunities from new services and the development of loyal customer bases. This does not apply to all markets in the region, though. Lebanon, steeped since 2001 in a morass of improbably high communications prices that impede economic growth, appears once again unable to pull itself out of the swamp by its bootstraps this year. Although the country’s political groups finally reached a cabinet agreement in July, the cabinet’s short lifespan leaves precious little time for devising a new auction to sell off mobile operator licenses. In terms of ministerial competency, the
