The Ministry of Telecommunication (MoT) signed an agreement with Bank Audi to launch the e-payment of bills of fixed telephone lines and Internet, by using credit and debit cards issued by any of the local or international banks.

The MoT said that all the technical and operational processes have been accomplished. The service will be activated as of tomorrow (May 15).

Many local banks participated in a tender to work alongside the MoT and launch the service. Harb said that Bank Audi presented the best technical and financial conditions.

Bank Audi has adopted an e-payment system conforming to international standards of security. Its portal will adopt encryption technologies used internationally through ‘Verified by Visa’ and ‘MasterCard Secure Code’ to protect against intrusion.

E-bill payment should also increase the bill collection rate and boost public revenues. “We expect that the collection of fixed phone bills will increase to 99 percent of all issued monthly bills as per our strategy,” said MoT Minister Boutros Harb.