ali_m3 wroteI feel sad when I read all these comments and this thread gets longer and longer. I just saw someone post some info on the internet in Qatar and i might as well share my experience as i am currently living in Qatar.
On 100Mbit fiber optics for the past 3 years (of course no quota) and i don't even remember having restarted my router once. I pay around $150/month for this service which includes a 150 channel 4k iptv box. For the past two months, i was given a free trial of 1Gbps speed (and yes i was able to download at around 110MB/sec)
As for mobile, on 4G+ and i get 1GB weekly data for $6/week. Speeds hover around 75Mbit/sec. Local calls are cheap and international calls are sometimes free depending on how much you recharge your mobile.
The above is not rocket science, its only investing right in the economy. Something Lebanese politicians don't understand.
Sorry, but to say "it's not rocket science", did you ever run ISP business? Just to say "it is not rocket science", you should have a little insight in this business at least, except just being customer and touching a little of top of the iceberg.
Ooredoo(Qatar telecom are not only in Qatar, it has customers around the world, oil money investments i guess) subscribers are 50 times more than population of Lebanon. It is N1. This adds huge flexibility in reusing old equipment, much better ROI on such assets.
Qatar GDP per capita $93k, it is somehow represents purchasing power. Lebanon - 9k$.
And last point, in Lebanon telecom companies (mtc & alfa & ogero) are main income source for government, because, sorry no oil. So they are hoovering all profit, that should be invested in infrastructure.
As simple last nails in the coffin, in Lebanon it is less than 1% of customers who are able to pay $150/month for internet. Plus unfortunately geopolitically Lebanon are in worst situation than anyone. War torn syria, state of war with southern neighbor, no major sea cables passing nearby, this cause drastic increase of backbone price.
