Cabinet Approves Cutting Down on Cellular Fees, Establishment of Ties with Palestinian State
The Lebanese Cabinet has approved the reduction in cellular fees as well as the establishment of ties with the Palestinian state.
Following a marathon meeting on Thursday, Information Minister Tareq Mitri said the Cabinet approved a plan to cut down the price of mobile phone calls by no less than 10 percent per minute as well as reduction in service fees.
He announced following the meeting which ended shortly after midnight that the government also approved expansion of the mobile phone network and recommendations for improving its services.
He said the Cabinet okayed measures taken by Telecommunications Minister Jebran Bassil last week to end the contract of Alfa and have the ministry itself manage the Alfa network.
Alfa”s services and coverage have suffered in recent months.
The government is planning an international tender for Alfa and MTC Touch, Lebanon”s only mobile operators, in early 2009.
Mitri said the deadline for the implementation of cabinet decisions is two months.
The Cabinet also approved establishment of diplomatic relations with the Palestinian state. Mitri said the ministers discussed the issue of opening a Palestine embassy in Beirut.
He said the government adopted a proposal to set up a joint Syrian-Lebanese committee on border control.