Telecom past dues paid to municipalities

Local network to
expand to remote areas

The Ministry of Telecommunications (MoT) will disburse to 888 municipalities $37.6 million, their share from revenues of the landline telephone network, as mandated by law. The amount is for the first quarter of 2014 and the three preceding ones.

MoT Minister Boutros Harb said: “Municipalities are still waiting for past dues worth $170 million accumulated since 2010. A meeting will be held with the Ministers of Finance and Interior to decide on the matter.” The Ministry is supposed to send landline revenue share to municipalities at the end of each quarter.

In Nabatieh, 100 municipalities will benefit from $1 million. In the South, 130 municipalities will benefit from $2.5 million. Bekaa municipalities, totaling 128, will receive $2.3 million. In the North, 239 municipalities will benefit from $4.5 million. Mount Lebanon municipalities, totaling 290, will benefit from $17.6 million. Beirut will receive $9.7 million. “The difference between mohafazats’ shares is relative to the number of subscriptions and the value of phone bills,” said Harb.

Harb said the MoT will work on raising the number of subscriptions in remote areas. The local landline network will be expanded in areas that currently do not have switches.

“The MoT also computerized billing and transfers to the municipalities’ bank accounts,” he said.