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LEBANON

• Lebanon's National Frequency Allocation Table Telecom Regulatory Authority (TRA), 24 June 2008.
• "Decision on Spectrum Management and Licensing Regulations," TRA (27 April 2009): Article 14.3 authorises exemption from licensing in specific bands "when such operation does not present any significant risk of interference" to protected users. Article 14.4 says the TRA will publish lists of the exempt bands and the power limits that apply in them. But so far as we know, no such list has been published yet.
• "Class and Frequency License Fees Regulation," TRA (27 April 2009). This was sent to the Council of State for approval and publication in summer 2009. It includes a "Low Power Wireless Network" and a "Wireless Fixed Closed User Group" License. Both types carry application, issuance and annual renewal fees of 750,000 Lebanese Pounds. But since this document says "Service Provider Licenses" in the header of each page, the license requirements and fees might only apply to those offering paid services to the public.
• "Use of Frequencies without a License," TRA Circular 4/2009, in Arabic. This emphasizes that all providers of commercial communication services need a license.
• الأصول المتبعة لإستيراد و إستعمال شبكات كمبيوتر لاسلكية داخلية للإستعمال الخاص فقط (Rules for the importation and private use of indoor wireless computer networks), Ministry of Telecommunications Declaration 5/1 (24 August 2005) in Arabic. Updated 1
• تنظيم إستثمار الإستعمال الخارجي للحيزالترددي 2.4 جيغاهيرتز من قبل الشركات المرخص لها إنشاء وإدارة وإستثمار شبكة لاسلكية لتبادل المعلومات بالإتجاهين (Rules for licensed companies concerning outdoor use of the 2.4GHz band), Ministry of Telecommunications Declaration 6/1 (27 August 2005) in Arabic.
• "In Lebanon the 2.4GHz and 5.8 Ghz bands are licensed to the State telco... Any company wishing to distribute wireless bandwidth must abide with declaration 6/1 [Rules for the outdoor use of the 2.4GHz band by licensed companies]..." ---Ian Howard's powerpoint presentation at the IESC AIM-IT WISP Training Workshop, Beirut, 9 May 2006.
• "The telecom privatization and liberalization law [English translation], passed in July 2002, has yet to be implemented..." ---Remarks by US Ambassador Feltman, 6 October 2004 (US Embassy press release).
• The International Executive Service Corps has an " initiative to provide affordable wireless Internet connectivity in rural areas in Lebanon" by providing microwave equipment and a volunteer-technician for the PICTA Academy's Wireless Internet Access Centres in Bourj el Barajneh, Marjeyoun, Baalbeck, Kana, Bint Jbeil and Batroun.
• "American University of Beirut deploying the largest planned Wi-Fi network in the Middle East," AME Info, 30 September 2004.
• IncoNet Data Management (IDM) claims to be "the first ISP in Lebanon to provide a WiFi network around the country" - starting with their contract for 17 kiosks at Beirut International Airport. In 2004 they installed hotspots in all the Starbucks coffee shops in Lebanon and went on to do the same for other restaurants and malls. They now specialize as a WISP (Wireless Internet service Provider).
• "Overview of Wireless Internet in Lebanon" by Marmoun Chammas, presented at a W2I conference in Amman, Jordan, 14-15 May 2004.
• "WiMAX Trial in Lebanon," Cellular News, 17 November 2006: "Alcatel says that it has been selected by the local ISP, Globalcom Data Services, to conduct the first IEEE 802.16e-2005 WiMAX trial in the Middle East. This trial will start in November 2006 and will help GDS to assess the capacity of WIMAX before commercial deployment in Lebanon."
• The National eStrategy for Lebanon - Document 3: eReadiness Assessment by Akram Najjar, Salam Yamout and Kamal Siblini, United Nations Development Programme and the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform (October 2003).

Middle East - Regional Overview