Report: Salam Calls for Security Meeting over Illegal Internet Network

Prime Minister Tammam Salam has called security and military officials for a meeting at the Grand Serail on Wednesday to discuss the illegal internet network file jeopardizing the country's security, al-Mustaqbal daily reported on Tuesday.

A parliamentary source told the daily on condition of anonymity: “The negligence of the government in punishing the perpetrators, mainly between 2009-2010 when the Barouk network was uncovered, led to their indifference and even encouraged others to commit similar crimes against the country's national sovereignty, security and economy.”

Experts at the Finance Ministry following up on the economic repercussions of the issue said that the illegal crossings have an ability of 40GB per second Wifi network speed which is equivalent to 600,000 international telephone lines that the state could benefit from, lowering the telecommunication revenues from international calls by $7 million on a monthly basis.

During a meeting of the parliamentary media committee early this month it was unveiled that a “mafia” is bluntly taking advantage of internet services by installing internet stations that are not subject to the state control.

The owners of these stations are buying international internet bandwidth with nominal cost from Turkey and Cyprus which they are selling back to Lebanese subscribers at reduced prices.

At a press conference that Telecommunications Minister Butros Harb held last week he said that some of the State institutions were “victims” to these networks after subscribing to the services not knowing of the danger entailed.

It has been reported that wireless internet towers and technical equipment were placed illegally in some mountainous terrains including Tannourine, al-Dinnieh, Sannine and al-Zaarour and other areas.

Smuggled internet services initiate risks namely the possibility of security breach as it lacks the basic control standards exposing Lebanon's security to third parties including Israel.

D.A.

G.K.