4G network ready for use

More 4G enabled devices will be imported

Alfa mobile operator successfully tested the 4G network yesterday with live voice calls in a launching event at Le Royal Hotel-Dbayeh, using Samsung S4, HTC1, and Blackberry A 10 devices. Other devices, including the iPhone 5, are not compatible with the local network yet.

“We have officially entered the 4G era with all our technology compatible networks settled, but the broad commercial usage of the service requires the appropriate devices,” said Marwan Hayek, Chairman and CEO of Alfa.

The Ministry of Telecommunication is currently working with smartphone producers like Apple and Samsung to start importing 4G enabled devices, compatible with the local networks.

Both Alfa and Touch mobile operators had announced the 4G network readiness a couple of months ago, with a successive implementation of the services. The network was initially accessible through 4G dongles.

Hayek said that Beirut will be fully 4G covered by the end of this September. Around 300 stations will be installed by the end of the year, out of the 1,000 planned ones, bringing the network to cities with big data usage, such as Tripoli, and Saida. The remaining regions will be covered gradually, based on the load of data usage.

Package prices for both operators start at $19 for 750MB, $29 for 1.5GB, and $149 for 20GB.