The Ministry of Telecommunication (MoT) is working on providing buildings under construction with onsite telephone switches, during the building phase, and linking them to the network. The Minister of Telecom Boutros Harb hosted talks with the Chairman of the Order of Engineers in Lebanon Khaled Chehab and the Chairman of the Order of Engineers of Tripoli and the North Mario Beainy.

The supervising engineers at new buildings must provide the MoT with details about the units that are being built. This enables the ministry to prepare and install the necessary equipment and infrastructure ahead of the completion of the buildings.

The residents will accordingly be able to subscribe to a land line and get Internet connection as soon as they move into the building.

Harb said that this agreement might lead to a protocol between the MoT and the Orders. “The protocol allows us to reach a stage where the application for a land line network connection becomes mandatory with the building permit, in the same manner as with electricity and water.” A committee will be tasked to prepare a mechanism for this plan.