Hooking Lebanon onto Starlink has been a key initiative of Telecommunications Minister Charles Hajj during his current term—one marked by opacity and a disregard for legal procedures and data sovereignty.
Despite criticism, Minister Hajj has moved ahead with formalizing Starlink’s presence. Sam Turner, Starlink’s Global Director of Licensing and Market Access, held a series of meetings with Lebanese officials to complete the legal registration process in Lebanon.
Once finalized, Hajj is expected to present the matter to the Council of Ministers, which may issue a final decision by the end of June.
The Starlink file has been under discussion in Lebanon for years. It resurfaced in October 2023, at the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, when then-Minister of Telecommunications Johnny Corm proposed it as a primary backup solution in case Israeli aggression cut off internet and telecommunications access.
Starlink is a satellite-based internet service launched by Elon Musk’s SpaceX. It aims to provide high-speed internet access to remote and underserved areas of the world, where traditional internet via fiber optics or mobile networks is difficult to deliver.
At the time, the Media and Telecommunications Parliamentary Committee expressed strong reservations about the proposal, while security agencies blocked the entry of Starlink equipment over concerns that it could evade oversight and access citizens’ data unlawfully. Each user would connect directly to satellites, bypassing Lebanon’s main internet provider, Ogero.
Legal Hurdles and Regulatory Concerns
Objections to introducing Starlink into Lebanon can be broken down into three main points. The first issue addresses obtaining licensing: legally, this must be handled exclusively through the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, which has yet to be formed. The second issue raises concerns about data control under a satellite-based internet provider. And third, the exclusivity of the partnership with Starlink without opening the market to competition from other companies, which Minister Hajj insists on.
These legal concerns are echoed by MP Yassin Yassin, a member of the Telecommunications Committee at the Lebanese Parliament, who warned against compromising data sovereignty.
He told SMEX that bringing international internet into Lebanon, whether via submarine cables or satellites, falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Lebanese state. This is based on Lebanese laws that place the responsibility for international internet access solely in the hands of the state, particularly the Ministry of Telecommunications and Ogero (Legislative Decree No. 126/1959 and Decree No. 9288/1996.)
“Any direct provision of bandwidth outside of these channels constitutes a clear legal violation unless a specific law is issued to authorize it. No private company may independently import international internet access without an explicit legal and regulatory agreement with the state,” Yassin explained.
The MP also opposed granting licenses outside the legal framework, emphasizing that frequencies are public assets and cannot be allocated or exploited without a license from the regulatory authority defined under Law 431 of 2002. This law gives that body exclusive authority over the management and allocation of the frequency spectrum.
Yassin proposed the alternative of creating a local company in which the state holds at least a 40% sovereign stake, a share of annual revenues, employment of Lebanese nationals at a rate of no less than 70% within five years, coverage of underserved areas, mandatory integration with the national network, a ban on monopolies, guarantees for competition, and routine technical and security oversight.
The Parliamentary Telecommunications Committee remains cautious about the Starlink file. In its latest session, Committee Chair MP Ibrahim Al-Mousawi stressed the need for “the highest levels of technical competence in the telecom sector, but under two key conditions: the first concerns security, ensuring that the service does not lead to any breaches, and the second relates to the economic return and the revenues Starlink would generate for the state.”
Internet Providers Push Back
The Starlink controversy has provoked strong objections from Lebanon’s internet service providers (ISPs). Seven companies—Inconet, Transmog, Terranet, Broadband, CableOne, Gedarcom, and Globalcom—signed a letter of objection to the Presidency, the Council of Ministers, and the Parliamentary Telecommunications Committee, calling for a carefully planned and gradual approach to introducing Starlink into the internet market.
The heads of these companies expressed concern about Starlink’s competitive capabilities, which they say could negatively impact the revenues of Lebanon’s main telecom providers: Ogero, Alfa, and Touch.
According to their estimates, this would lead to a significant decline in revenues and a loss of up to 25% of their customer base, particularly among businesses and private institutions, resulting in a 27% drop in income, ultimately reducing the state’s overall revenue.
In response, MP Yassin called for “restraint before making any decision and for allowing other international companies into the market to ensure genuine competition and better returns for the state, something the Minister of Telecommunications has so far refused to do.”
“No company should be allowed to sell satellite internet services in a market already plagued by regulatory chaos, violations, and a deteriorating national terrestrial infrastructure,” Yassin told SMEX. “The current situation must be corrected, legal networks expanded, and the market organized to ensure fair competition.”
Who Can Afford Starlink Services?
Individuals are unlikely to benefit from Starlink services due to their high cost. The basic equipment, including the satellite dish and in-home router, ranges from $350 to $500 USD, a one-time purchase. After that, a standard residential user pays between $42 and $56 USD for the monthly subscription. Businesses wishing to subscribe to Starlink must pay additional fees.
A monthly subscription offering 500 GB of data costs around $111 USD, a price point that makes it difficult for citizens to access quality internet, especially in remote areas.
On another front, one of the most significant issues surrounding Starlink is the potential violation of digital sovereignty. A telecommunications expert, who spoke to SMEX on condition of anonymity, explained that under Lebanon’s telecommunications law, the transfer of citizens’ data outside the country is prohibited, as is its use or storage by a foreign state.
But since Starlink data is transmitted to satellites and then to the company’s main servers, the expert raised a critical question: “Where will this data go? We don’t know how the service will be operated in Lebanon, or if it might be managed from a neighboring country, like Qatar.”
Transparency is lacking in the enthusiasm shown by the minister and some media outlets, which are portraying Starlink as a silver-bullet solution to Lebanon’s internet crisis.
“The public should be informed about the nature and duration of the license, the state’s share of Starlink revenues, the company’s investments in Lebanon, and other related questions,” added the expert.
Preserving Lebanon’s National Telecommunications’ Economy
To date, the state’s share in the deal remains unknown, but the bulk of the profits will go to the parent company.
“Starlink’s services will be launched for businesses due to their high cost and will not be accessible to ordinary citizens or remote areas.
For that reason, it’s essential to reconsider and ensure the protection of the national economy, which heavily depends on the telecommunications sector. The question is: why aren’t existing telecom operators offering incentive packages to large companies, working to reach remote areas, and launching a fiber optic expansion plan?”
When asked how Lebanon’s telecom operators might be affected by Starlink’s entry into the market, the expert responded, “If these companies are negatively affected, that only reflects their weakness, poor service, and the need to reassess their plans and investments. From a commercial perspective, all companies offering quality service to the country are welcome, provided there’s no monopoly.”
The expert also raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest involving Telecommunications Minister Charles Hajj, pointing out that he currently owns—or has previously held—shares in two internet service providers, Waves and Connect, both of which are involved in distributing Starlink services.
Notably, these two companies did not sign the letter of objection submitted by private ISPs against Starlink’s entry into the Lebanese market.
SMEX attempted to contact the Minister of Telecommunications for answers regarding transparency, the licensing mechanism, exclusivity, and digital sovereignty, but received no response.
Main image: AFP.
