The telecommunications sector in Lebanon was one of the first sectors to adjust its official tariffs and increase them to align with changes in the official exchange rate, based on the "Sayrafa" platform, citing rising fuel prices and the need to adopt market prices to ensure the continuity of the sector and internet and communication services. As usual, the astonishing reality in this country is that public services do not meet the required standards and do not satisfy the needs of citizens who often comply with paying fees and taxes, resulting in a zero outcome despite price increases.
This is the situation for many Lebanese citizens in several areas with Ogero central offices that are out of service. An example is the complaint received by MTV from some residents regarding the Dair Qoubel central office in Shweifat, which has been mostly nonoperational for over a month. At best, internet service may return for a few hours before it disconnects again. The problem is that the generator at the mentioned central office is malfunctioning and only operates when electricity is available. This is a common issue with dozens of central offices across Lebanese regions that lack generators and suffer from electricity outages.
But where are the substantial revenues that the Ministry of Telecommunications and Ogero have been generating for months, and why are they not being spent on improving internet services and central offices? Informed sources indicated to MTV that the sector's revenues are transferred to the public treasury via the Ministry of Finance, and any expenditures in Ogero or the Ministry of Telecommunications require the opening of appropriations. They clarified that the bureaucracy within state administrations in Lebanon is the root of the problem, leading to delays in opening appropriations to allocate necessary funds for completing works and maintenance promptly.
Once again, citizens are paying the price; however, it is their right to ask the state about their needs and the services that are not reaching them when they are obliged to pay higher fees and tariffs. This inquiry regarding Ogero central services must be placed before those concerned, hoping they respond and restore the non-functioning central offices to operation.
