Faster broadband speeds are coming to Lebanon as consumers
get ready for the country’s first 4G LTE-Advanced network.
The new network offers download speeds up to approximately 260 Mb
per second, combining multiple spectrums in order to improve efficiency.
The project is a partnership between Nokia and Alfa, a
Lebanese company managed
by Orascom Telecom, Media and Technology (OTMT). While rolling out
the new 4G-LTE-A network, the two companies have also signed a memorandum of
understanding to collaborate on the possibilities for 4G and beyond, looking
toward a future 5G network, and technologies poised to take advantage of the
Internet of things model.
Officials and business representatives are excited about how
the new network will bring better functionality for the nation’s many data
users.
“The
deployment of Lebanon’s first 4.5G or LTE-Advanced network carries much
significance to Alfa, the Lebanese Ministry of Telecommunications (MoT) as well as the Lebanese end users and
enterprises.” Roger Ghorayeb, Nokia’s
customer team regional head for growth, told the Gulf News Journal Friday.
“This technology brings a list of advantages as well as opportunities to the
members of the information and communications technology (ICT) ecosystem in the country.”
Ghorayeb referenced a “data explosion” — where up to 74 percent of users
in Lebanon are data users.
“The high
speed and high capacity mobile broadband technology comes in as a necessity for
mobile operators in order to cope with the demand.” Ghorayeb said. “They can utilize the opportunity by modernizing
their infrastructure and launching new data services and bundles.”
Ghorayeb cited a Pew Research Center survey showing the majority
of Lebanese adults have smartphones, and a market survey that showed 96 percent of
Lebanese respondents use social media or messaging at least once per day,
putting Lebanon far beyond countries like the UAE with 81 percent, and Saudi Arabia
with 77 percent, as well as Qatar with 69 percent.
Ghorayeb said the new network offering builds on an established
track record of offering innovative services to customers
“When 3G
services were launched in November 2011, the use of Internet in Lebanon hit new
highs.” Ghorayeb said. “The new
technology was extremely appealing to the consumers, increasing the number of
mobile broadband subscribers by 158 percent.”
In 2012, he
said, mobile broadband services saw another yearly surge in demand by 173 percent, and
by 2013, more than 50 percent of mobile subscribers had already a mobile data plan. At
the end of June 2014 mobile broadband subscriptions rose by almost 16 percent from
December 2013’s level.
“Innovative
new mobile services such as the 4G LTE services were launched in May 2013.” Ghorayeb said. “It is worth mentioning
that the MoT’s measure to cut tariffs increased the demand for 3G and 4G data
services rather than boosting the total number of mobile subscribers.”
Ghorayeb also talked about small cells that will help to improve
network capacity in local network areas.
“LTE Small
Cells are used to overcome coverage and capacity challenges in scattered
locations.” Ghorayeb said. “The
need for such equipment will be visible more as the LTE-A rollout progresses
and as the optimization of the deployed network matures.”
