Lebanon and Telecom...The Saga Continues

I was a bit reluctant regarding the subject of this new post. The fact is that while doing some surfing/reading I came across an interesting finding to which I couldn’t give a valid explanation. Even though what I am going to talk about ain’t exactly confidential since you can get it from many public resources; its subject on the other hand is a bit sensitive.

While I was reading about the telecom sector in Lebanon; its birth, development, progress, future plans, etc…  I came across a weird document that dates back to 1997 (before 8 and 14 of March in a looooong time). It was a decision taken by the council of ministers back then to accept a tender from one of three telecom equipment providers (I will not state the providers names, but I assure you that you can find it out with some minor research).

Page 1 of the Decision

Page 2 of the Decision

What’s the big deal about it; Lebanon needs telecom equipment and we have to get them from abroad! I totally agree… But what’s worth mentioning is the following:

1. One of these 3 companies was enlisted on a report prepared by “maktab moukata3it 2isra2eel” or Israel Boycott Office (and still is).
• The bureau is affiliated with the League of Arab countries.
• The Bureau has been established in order to produce quarterly reports regarding the names of the companies that have direct involvement from/with Israel.
• It is stated by law, that any company with its name on that particular report cannot be introduced to the Lebanese market without a formal decision from the council of ministers.
• To know more about this bureau, check out the last two paragraphs on the below link: http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/PrintArticle.asp?id=12458
• The Full Bureau policies and rules are under this link (PDF).
2. The decision taken on that day is to allow that one company (whose name is in the banned companies report) to be introduced to the Lebanese market, and not the other two whose name isn’t on that before mentioned report. 

Now, with all the hassle about spying in Lebanon, and the security breaches; shouldn’t the required authorities (if they haven’t yet) investigate if any hidden spying ability was/is installed into the equipment delivered to us? Or simply the reasons why this chosen company has its name enlisted in the Bureau’s report. And that’s some of many questions one should ask oneself.

Excuse the quality of the pictures...