Ogero, the Lebanese state-owned telephone operator, is still waiting for the Post and Telecommunications Minister Jean-Louis Qordahi to approve the introduction of Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) lines promising faster internet access and data transmission.
ISDN, an international communications standard for sending voice, video, and data across digital and analog telephone lines, is expected to increase data transfer for residential and corporate users to 64 kilobits per second — three to five times faster than current internet connections.
Ogero reported that the first implementation phase would include 6,000-7,000 ISDN lines. According to the Ministry’s ISDN pricing policy document, the connection charge for a new ISDN line would amount to $550, while upgrading an existing phone line would cost $283.
In addition to these one-time charges, the quarterly subscription fee will be $110 for residential and $130 for corporate users, and subscribers will still pay normal local phone charges as specified by Ogero. — (Banque du Liban et d'Outre-Mer Sal)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
