I am really tired of people in this country complaining about anything good that comes their way. The 4G LTE launch is a great achievement. You talk about DSL, but here are a few things you need to keep in mind.

1) 4G LTE can replace your DSL entirely. Lets take Ogero for example.172.000LL for 8Mpbs and 30GB. The most expensive package for 4G is 149 dollars which gives you 40GB and much faster downloads. I have tried LTE in my area and get 20Mbps on average. Why would I pay 172,000LL for 8Mbps and 30GB when I can get 20Mbps for 149$ and 40GB (for example) or 20GB for $119 ? Also, 4G speeds will increase further as time goes on.

2) You do realize you can get a dongle or tether your smartphone (once its open to the mobile network next month) and completely use 4G instead of DSL? I personally require significantly better upload speeds as a run a small company, and I now get around 5-8 Mbps upload. Yes this varies from place to place and how to the tower you are, but coverage will improve.

3) As for DSL itself, the Ministry of Telecommunications sent out new pricing, speed and quota to be approved by the council of ministers. DSL would have seen significant increases in speeds but the government resigned which meant that this could not be approved by the council of ministers.

Conclusion: Progress has been made. 4G in Lebanon is a step in the right direction forward. Quotas, prices and speeds will continue to improve in time. We must not forget that this ministry was neglected and corrupt only 3 years ago. The infrastructure was old and poorly maintained. I think we have come a long way in 3 years.
redbyte wroteI am really tired of people in this country complaining about anything good that comes their way. The 4G LTE launch is a great achievement. You talk about DSL, but here are a few things you need to keep in mind.

1) 4G LTE can replace your DSL entirely. Lets take Ogero for example.172.000LL for 8Mpbs and 30GB. The most expensive package for 4G is 149 dollars which gives you 40GB and much faster downloads. I have tried LTE in my area and get 20Mbps on average. Why would I pay 172,000LL for 8Mbps and 30GB when I can get 20Mbps for 149$ and 40GB (for example) or 20GB for $119 ? Also, 4G speeds will increase further as time goes on.

2) You do realize you can get a dongle or tether your smartphone (once its open to the mobile network next month) and completely use 4G instead of DSL? I personally require significantly better upload speeds as a run a small company, and I now get around 5-8 Mbps upload. Yes this varies from place to place and how to the tower you are, but coverage will improve.

3) As for DSL itself, the Ministry of Telecommunications sent out new pricing, speed and quota to be approved by the council of ministers. DSL would have seen significant increases in speeds but the government resigned which meant that this could not be approved by the council of ministers.

Conclusion: Progress has been made. 4G in Lebanon is a step in the right direction forward. Quotas, prices and speeds will continue to improve in time. We must not forget that this ministry was neglected and corrupt only 3 years ago. The infrastructure was old and poorly maintained. I think we have come a long way in 3 years.
Hello redbyte, I hope you're enjoying this happy weekend afternoon. To start, no one complained about 4G! They, in fact, we asked for more concentration on DSL improvement. Having 4G in Lebanon is AMAZING!!! Our mobile data technology is now the best you can get in this world (not the pricing of course). Hence 4G launch is welcomed by everyone who posted, and who didn't post too.
We talk about DSL because it's more important, we have 3G with a slow DSL connection, why going 4G while we can spend our resources(Budget, workers, stations, abilities, and so on) on improving the DSL services. Just to make the idea a little bit more simple:" What we did in this step is like buying the latest i7 Laptop that we use for business and studies (and we already have an i3 laptop that is more than sufficient for our work), while we still have a Core2Duo desktop in the back, when we're really into gaming and enthusiast media..." Got it?

Thanks for your 3 arguments, but excuse me, they are not valid for Lebanese users (International users anyway):
1)That was a punch in the nose for me!!! Mate you really want me to pay hundreds of bucks for an equivalent 8Mbps ADSL service, when the world averages at 13.6Mbps download speed??! What you said is absolutely correct, and applicable, but paying for ADSL services as much as paying for mobile service is just not on anybody's agenda. Not even the most wealthy rich people in this country, because it's quite irrational. After all 4G wasn't made for home or office usage, it's a mobile data service. That's why we have fiber optics.

2)Argument invalid for preceding reasons. But still I'll accept you're argument controversially, what should those who didn't got even 3G services in their areas do?

3)There is nowhere in the whole world where people just sit, and watch their politicians do wrong for 4 years, and then go and reelect them again. We are suffering from a narrow minded society that needs complete brain washing and re-flashing of a modern Frimware. I'm not allowed to discuss this in this forums, but I'll try to pull it off, people are stuck in wrong beliefs even about their own religions and faith, and even their philosophical view of life. If we could really pick up the right persons for the right jobs, we could have achieved extraordinary results in the internet sector, we have a main internet cable (I forgot it's name :S) passing next to us in the sea, linking Europe to India I guess, we can easily and for a low price get a huge bandwidth, and be one of the leading countries in the DSL domain. Why I'm saying all this, is because the way you (and most of us) see the situation, as a government saying no to more of the good stuff like something usual, pulled my triggers. I'll stop here, that was more than abundant.

Conclusion: You're trying to seek the bright side, that is what we're all trying to do. But the way you're seeing it is plain unaccepltable for the majority of the Lebanese people, maybe those who have 200-300$ to spare every month and living in the capital city can go with your options. But what you suggested is not applicable at all what so ever.

I respect your opinion, and I'm not saying you're wrong, but I'm just giving my point of view(that might be the wrong one).
Regards mate...

*Edit* Bunch of typos :-)
Hi ILIA_93, thanks for your input. I think there are a few things you misunderstood but I think we agree on some fundamental issues.

With regards to 1) Firstly, I would like to make a correction to when you stated that "After all 4G wasn't made for home or office usage, it's a mobile data service". 4G is actually a competitor to DSL. Many small businesses in the West are using 4G as their source of internet. Like I said, I have my all small business and I have met with some of these companies. There are a variety of reasons for why these businesses have switched to 4G for their businesses. The most common and important one, though, is when they are located in rural areas and do not have access to decent ADSL or Fiber services. A lot of these companies have been very happy using this as an alternative and it has actually allowed them to grow their business, but I think our infrastructure in Lebanon needs time before this is even possible here.

Anyway, you are correct in saying that you should not have to pay as much for mobile service as you do for DSL. However, I was speaking to people who need the capacity and bandwidth (people such as myself who owns a small business). I cant tell you how many times I have not been able to have a proper Skype meeting because of the lack of reliability with our DSL. The point I was trying to make is that 4G gives us an alternative, hopefully for a short term until a new government is formed and the council of ministers can sign the necessary degrees in order to increase bandwidth and quota. I am fully aware that most people cannot afford the insane prices on the quotas, but some of us have no other options. I might as well close my business down within a year if things don't pick up pace in the sector.

The cable you were talking about is the IMEWE. You are right, this cable can get us low prices and more bandwidth, which is exactly what the decree was supposed to do when it was sent to the council of ministers. The resignation of the government means we will have to wait a long time before this happens.

Which brings me to my last point in which if fully agree with you on. Although we cant talk politics here, there is no doubt that political issues and the lack of a government will severely hamper our progress in this sector. This, unfortunately, has always been the case in this country and I wouldnt hold my breath expecting it to change tomorrow.

Again, thanks for your input
redbyte wrote4G is actually a competitor to DSL.
Well I see, you're talking business. For me, I used to be a heavy gamer, so internet latency was a headache for me. Concerning 4G in Leabnon:
1)Latency is definitely not as good as IMEWE's.
2)Connectivity is less reliable and less stable than DSL. Imagine the heavy cloudy rainy winters!
3)Monopoly! Everyone knows it, we have no competition between alfa and touch. We saw their offers concerning 3G packages, and 4G ones are surely not going to be any better. So it's a noway for 4G to be used by domestic or even the regular business users who need a good amount of data.

I don't have a deep knowledge concerning the internet world, but I'm sure for domestic usage fiber optics should be the #1 priority. Add to that the horrible offers of mobile data services, then we have no choice other than wired connections. But I see this issue from a normal user perspective, I have no idea why a speed over 10Mbps is important for business, a 8Mbps connection with a 30-40ms latency to Europe is a dream coming to reality for me. So maybe that some people see that having 4G for now is important since DSL speeds aren't enough for them justify this step from the ministry :/

Best regards and good night :-)
a month later
Well where I live we still have alfa gprs. Several people made contact with the minister regarding 3g in our area but nothing changed.

In my opinion everyone in lebanon deserves to have 3g before the ministry goes on their wild 4g adventures.
iron wroteWell where I live we still have alfa gprs. Several people made contact with the minister regarding 3g in our area but nothing changed.

In my opinion everyone in lebanon deserves to have 3g before the ministry goes on their wild 4g adventures.
what is your mobile device? also what is your region?
Im in bekaa Anjar, I use Xperia arc s but dunno why does that matter since its the same on all devices and dongles.
It is common, that in remote areas such technologies unavailable at first moments, because it is just not profitable. In center of city there is high density of users, some infrastructure. Anjar have too low users density, and huge problems with communications and electricity.
Just count - base need to serve constantly traffic, to be profitable. If Anjar has 1000 users even, who pay monthly $30 - it is not enough to cover expenses. While in city center in offices constatly working users, that can reach much more numbers (because they dont stay permanently, and most of them when there consume traffic, which equal traffic).
When they will have old 3g bases - they will move them to remote locations.
iron - it is telecom business rule in all world.
3G Coverage touch

3G Coverage Alfa
I wonder why that little area in northern beirut is not covered
Touch map much more professional. Alfa map lies a lot, in my area no 3G coverage, and it shown as green.
I understand that their are certain rules about that nuclearcat but we have Touch 3g why wouldnt we have alfa?
Worth to call their support team and tweet the minister (sehnaoui). Maybe he will support or he can shed some light on things :)
sadly all of those were done for almost a year now and still the same :(
24 days later
Hello guys,

I am having some trouble connecting to the LTE network in Beirut.

I bought an iPad 4 (Model A1460 GSM) which definately supports LTE band 3 (1800MHz) in europe.

It did not come with a sim-lock or anything like that. When I came back to lebanon I registered it at the airport. I then purchased an alfa mobile broadband prepaid sim card (came with 19$ credit) AT A RESELLER NOT DIRECTLY FROM ALFA and directly charged another 30$ on it in order to be able to subscribe to the 50$ 3GB bundle. Which worked out pretty easy.

Where i live, there is NO LTE coverage, and I am fully aware of that, however i often go to beirut, specially abc achrafieh, dbayeh, downtown etc.

I was excited to finally for the first time try the lebanese LTE network, BUT nope only received 5 bars 3G with ridiculous 2-5mbit/s

The guy in the shop ensured me that I would not need any special sim card for LTE, amd when i called alfa, the 1st guy i got said the same while on their website they state that i have to switch my current sim to a so called "USIM" amd the 2nd guy on their website said I would need to buy a whole new mobile broadband line...

I am really confused now...

Might be important to note that even though i just purchased my sim two days ago, it was still an old one from about mid or end 2012

Thats why i said i got it from a reseller...

My settings are :

APN usb.mic1.com.lb
Username mic1
Password mic1

For all 3 fields (mobile internet, LTE (optional) and personal hotspot)

(The apn settings page on the ipad looks like that)

So my 3 questions are: where is the issue ( sim, device, coverage, settings...)

in the worst case scenario, do i need a new line that again would cost me 50$?

What is the best solution?

Please help instead of saying things like " Oh... 4G... You dont need that 3g is more than enough 4G only burns your usage down"

Sorry for the previous sentence but thats what alfa told me... :(
forgotten wroteHello guys,

I am having some trouble connecting to the LTE network in Beirut.

I bought an iPad 4 (Model A1460 GSM) which definately supports LTE band 3 (1800MHz) in europe.

It did not come with a sim-lock or anything like that. When I came back to lebanon I registered it at the airport. I then purchased an alfa mobile broadband prepaid sim card (came with 19$ credit) AT A RESELLER NOT DIRECTLY FROM ALFA and directly charged another 30$ on it in order to be able to subscribe to the 50$ 3GB bundle. Which worked out pretty easy.

Where i live, there is NO LTE coverage, and I am fully aware of that, however i often go to beirut, specially abc achrafieh, dbayeh, downtown etc.

I was excited to finally for the first time try the lebanese LTE network, BUT nope only received 5 bars 3G with ridiculous 2-5mbit/s

The guy in the shop ensured me that I would not need any special sim card for LTE, amd when i called alfa, the 1st guy i got said the same while on their website they state that i have to switch my current sim to a so called "USIM" amd the 2nd guy on their website said I would need to buy a whole new mobile broadband line...

I am really confused now...

Might be important to note that even though i just purchased my sim two days ago, it was still an old one from about mid or end 2012

Thats why i said i got it from a reseller...

My settings are :

APN usb.mic1.com.lb
Username mic1
Password mic1

For all 3 fields (mobile internet, LTE (optional) and personal hotspot)

(The apn settings page on the ipad looks like that)

So my 3 questions are: where is the issue ( sim, device, coverage, settings...)

in the worst case scenario, do i need a new line that again would cost me 50$?

What is the best solution?

Please help instead of saying things like " Oh... 4G... You dont need that 3g is more than enough 4G only burns your usage down"

Sorry for the previous sentence but thats what alfa told me... :(

Hi,

4G is not supported on all Apple devices in Lebanon yet. The Apple license to do so is still pending.
Oh ok so you're saying that due to the fact that apple has not given alfa a license for the ipad 4, it is currently impossible to receive alfa's 4G service on it?

The iPad mini seems to be licensed though since i've read a review about the 4g network from someone who used one.

Ok so I will be able to benefit from it as soon as apple gives a license right? But will they? Hope they're not just gonna give one for the iPad 5...

But in all cases everything else except for the licensing stuff is right is it? No need for any "USIM" or a new line or anything?

So theoretically I could take the sim out of my iPad, put it inside a licensed dongle, iPad mini, or any licensed android tablet?

Any ideas when such a license would be given would be appreciated :)
3 months later
I have a question. Are there any plans for the phone providers to implement calling on the LTE SIM cards? For now it's only mobile data.
11 days later
Hi, I have the s4 i9505, which has the 4g chip. Touch sent me an SMS saying that 4G works on this phone, but I still don't understand how to subscribe to 4G with this phone.
Is 4G actually available for mobiles ?