Lebanon (Enmaeya Features) - October 10, 2025
In an era where digital speed defines our daily lives, Lebanese users find themselves stuck in front of their screens, waiting for a page to load on their phones as if time has stopped.
Meanwhile, Lebanon ranks 85th globally in mobile internet speed, sharing the same struggles as countries like Nigeria and Laos, according to Speedtest.
Amid frozen videos and images that won’t load, one question remains: Will Lebanon soon witness a significant leap in mobile internet performance?
Slow Internet Is Not Just a Technical Issue
Digital transformation and cybersecurity expert Roland Abi Najem told Enmaeya that Lebanon’s slow internet problem is not merely technical but is directly linked to infrastructure issues, the electricity crisis, and political influences on the telecommunications sector.
Abi Najem explained that “Ogero”, Lebanon’s main internet provider, cannot offer reliable services unless there are several external internet sources that don’t rely on just one cable or network. Strong infrastructure, like fiber optics or wireless communications, is also needed to ensure wide coverage and properly operate a 5G network.
He added that the sector has not undergone any comprehensive updates or upgrades since 2019. Recent efforts have focused mainly on securing fuel to run central office generators amid constant electricity outages, which hinders any meaningful improvement in internet performance.
Alternative Solution: Satellite Internet
Regarding alternative solutions, Abi Najem highlighted that satellite internet services, such as Starlink, offer a suitable option, especially in areas where internet access via cables or conventional wireless networks is difficult.
They are also resilient in the face of disasters such as earthquakes or wars.
Political Challenges Before Technical Ones
The expert stressed that Lebanon’s main challenges are not only technical but also political.
He noted: “Expanding Starlink services quickly can provide internet access while infrastructure and electricity improve. A long-term solution requires clear political will, electricity provision, and the expansion of the fiber network to cover all Lebanese regions, not just Beirut, before fully rehabilitating the infrastructure”.
Abi Najem added: “The essential step for the success of any plan to improve the internet in Lebanon is political will. Without it, no technical plan can achieve the desired results”.
The Unfinished Digital Dream
Between political and technical challenges, Lebanon’s internet remains an unfinished digital dream.
Still, with every update or expansion in infrastructure, Lebanese users move one step closer to a faster and more stable digital experience.
And the real question is: Will the coming years finally bring a true breakthrough that makes Lebanon’s mobile internet as fast and reliable as it should be?
