• Networking

  • MTC Touch and Alfa committed to reduce tariffs

The original version is here
http://www.lecommercedulevant.com/node/17984

Translation:
It is now possible for mobile users to switch operators while keeping their number. The "portability" is, with lower fares, one of the commitments made by the two operators Alfa and MTC Touch in the one-year renewal of their contract which expires Monday, has told the Commerce du Levant Outgoing Minister of Telecommunications Charbel Nahas.

Renewal for one year is the option that was chosen by the department and the two companies Orascom (Alfa) and Zain (MTC Touch). The alternative would have been, according to Nahas, the department recovers the network management contract expires Jan. 31, in the absence of a decision of the Council of Ministers.

Number portability will introduce a minimum of competition between the two operators, also responsible to implement 3G , waiting to review the tariff structure that requires decisions by the Council of Ministers, said Charbel Nahas. At a press conference Friday, he emphasized the urgency of such a review given the weight of exorbitant fees in the telephone bill.
"In a little over two billion dollars spent by the Lebanese in a year in telecommunications, 17% goes to fixed telephony, mobile at 66%, 8% to the Internet and data transmission and 9% at the VAT. In total, 58% of the invoice with taxes and annuities. "

Within the limits of current opportunities, both operators are committed to the department to provide new services resulting in lower actual costs for users.
Three packages a month plus 10 days of cooldown will be proposed successively.
In late February, the first package will offer 30-minute call for 15,000 pounds (10 dollars). Two months later the second 60 minutes will provide telecommunications for 25,000 pounds (16.7 million). Finally, around July, a third will offer 120 minutes for 48,000 pounds ($ 32).

"We have thus reduced from 25 to 30% the price of mobile telecommunications for the most disadvantaged," said Charbel Nahas. The minister said the minute call costs about three times more expensive for mobile users if they use prepaid cards (39-40 cents per minute) rather than a subscription (14 cents a minute). This difference is even more unfair that 80% of users use prepaid cards.

The introduction of 3G and fiber optics that will "change the face of the telecom sector in Lebanon in 2011 and construction is ahead of its liberalization, says outgoing Minister in an interview with Commerce du Levant. "The industry must be structured in two levels: a state monopoly in the ownership of infrastructure (passive layer) and commercial competition in the provision of services by the private sector (active layer) .

A first step in this direction is made under the commitment of both mobile network operators to sell at wholesale prices of the transmission capacity of data to operators 'virtual', with the latter then making offers the general public.

It is under these commitments - as well as to waive a compensation of 2.5 million dollars in the event of termination - Alfa and MTC Touch have accepted the one-year renewal of their contract, the same conditions income than before, "says Charbel Nahas.
I don't understand why the focus is only on prepaid cards being considered for the "disadvantaged" . Postpaid lines pay a fixed cost of 15$ + 4.5 $ for clip alert + 2$ towtin or western union charges = 21.5 $ ( 23.65 $ including taxes ) without even talking , the price of SMS is the same for both , only the calls are cheaper (mostly offset by the fixed cost unless your bill is more than 50 $ )

Why does prepaid = poor and postpaid = rich ? . i think it would be more interesting to create monthly plans with different prices and services covering all consumer needs
It is now possible for mobile users to switch operators while keeping their number.
A Great Service. :)
It is now possible for mobile users to switch operators while keeping their number
Finally!
MTC, here I come.
In late February, the first package will offer 30-minute call for 15,000 pounds (10 dollars). Two months later the second 60 minutes will provide telecommunications for 25,000 pounds (16.7 million). Finally, around July, a third will offer 120 minutes for 48,000 pounds ($ 32).
They mean 30 full minutes, right? So a 20 second call would be considered a 20 second call, not 1 minute like now.
If that's not the case, it would be much cheaper for me now at 12 cents/minute...
Why does prepaid = poor and postpaid = rich ? . i think it would be more interesting to create monthly plans with different prices and services covering all consumer needs
100%...I don't know why they have this idea in mind, and lol, just because you have a prepaid line doesn't mean you are disadvantaged. And just because you spend less money on your communications doesn't make you poor!
It is now possible for mobile users to switch operators while keeping their number
This is a great feature, and should give the consumer much more freedom. I have a feeling alfa will suffer from this.
Why does prepaid = poor and postpaid = rich ?
Why does prepaid = poor and postpaid = rich ?

its a generalization; a lot people who have postpaid have Blackberry which they pay around 70$ a month before making calls, not all people can afford to pay that.
no (:
All the bbm are prepaid :P
postpiad is not for rich, postpaid is for people who talks a lot
You're not getting the point. If you were Business students you would've understand what Nahhas meant to say :) When he says that reducing the price of prepaid cards would help the disadvantaged it's because the ministry has issued this service and marketed it initially towards the "disadvantaged" people. That was the ministry's intension and it's a fact that the vast majority of disadvantaged people who own cell phones use prepaid cards, and not postpaid ones. But in case rich people chose to use prepaid cards, that doesn't change anything because they are not the "target market" of this service.

Got it? :)
I understand your point Kassem , what i want to say is why "disadvantaged" people have to pay in advance, and "not disadvantaged" users have to pay at the end of the month. ( if they marketed it that way then they were wrong) they could just create postpaid and prepaid packages for all kinds of people

Besides when Minister Bassil was telecommunication minister , postpaid was marketed as the most economical solution after the price reduction, so many "disadvantaged" users switched to postpaid ( and they cannot switch back to prepaid , you can only do it one way )
Honestly, I'd go postpaid if they get rid of that ridiculous $20 per month fee without even dialing a number. But changing operators while keeping your number will be awesome :D Maybe I'll switch to MTC :)
why some people want to switch to MTC i feel that both operator are the same
Lb Officer wrotewhy some people want to switch to MTC i feel that both operator are the same
Your practically right, both share the crappy service they provide.
But i prefer MTC, for some reason.
By the way, when 3G is launched, will the duopoly persist or are we going towards an open market?
Lb Officer wrotewhy some people want to switch to MTC i feel that both operator are the same
Well, for prepaid customers, it's almost the same.
But I'm postpaid and mtc.

My first advantage, is that my WAP is unlimited and with no usage policy (alfa postpaid is 25MB/month, same price, $5)

Second, I can subscribe and unsubscribe from services, and suspend/reconnect my number, using my mtctouch account online, without going through the hassle of calling 111 or visiting their offices.

Third, mtctouch has a Star Package which includes: CLIP, Call Wait/Hold, Call Forward, Bill Limit, Multi-Party Conference and Call Barring. If you subscribed to each of these services alone, you would end up paying $18 on mtc and I don't know how much on alfa, surely something close to $15. But with the Star Package, you pay 5$/per month for the whole thing. You end up saving $10+ from your bill.

mtc postpaid can send credits to prepaid, alfa can't!

So, personally, I find mtc a much more convenient operator.
By the way, when 3G is launched, will the duopoly persist or are we going towards an open market?
I think it will persist, since the prices are controlled by the government. I don't see how 3G will make a difference.
By the way, I've just requested an episode on Kalam Al Nass earlier today which discusses the telecommunications sector and where it is going within the coming few months and whether we're going to witness any improvements before the fiber optics network is finalized. The good news is that they're already preparing this episode, so hopefully we'll get all the answers to our questions very soon! :)
Kassem wroteBy the way, when 3G is launched, will the duopoly persist or are we going towards an open market?
Number portability will introduce a minimum of competition between the two operators
As I can see her everyone will switch to MTC... so Alfa will lose a LOTS of clients and will be obliged to adapt itself (:
So there IS going to be a competition at least between the two operators.... It's like for the MEA company
does anyone know any info about the third operator in lebanon OM "Ogero Mobile"
I called alfa and asked about these. They had no idea what I'm talking about but denied that we can switch operators.
eliefares wroteI called alfa and asked about these. They had no idea what I'm talking about but denied that we can switch operators.
Of course they will deny, it's not a news that they want to spread because the will lose a lots of clients :)