At Least 4 Internet Stations Working Illegally, Cost $200 Million Annually

Four illegal internet stations have been proven to exist so far in the mountainous terrains of al-Dinnieh, Ayoun al-Siman, Faqra and Zaarour amid information that suspects involved in the case have not been unveiled or apprehended so far, An Nahar daily reported on Thursday.

According to the daily, the ministers of Finance Ali Hassan Khalil, Telecommunications Butros Harb and Defense Samir Moqbel are following up closely on the file and have reiterated during Wednesday's media committee meeting the persistence to resolve the case.

Head of the committee MP Hassan Fadlallah had said that discussions focused on the security fears with relation to Israeli breaches and the financial part related to squandering the state's funds, considering the normal place to hold the government accountable is in the parliament.

Fadlallah had confirmed that four unlicensed stations were operational in Mount Lebanon and asked that the judiciary and security authorities to expedite their investigation.

Minister Khalil had said that the smuggled internet cost the state around $200 million on an annual basis.

Early in March, the committee unveiled what it described as a “mafia” that is 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.

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.

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.