LIMS celebrated a landmark victory after the Lebanese Court of Audit annulled the Ministry of Communications’ contract with “Stream Media” for Over-The-Top (OTT) media services, citing multiple legal violations. The court ruled that the contract was an attempt to secure illicit profits through a partnership with an unqualified “shell company,” marking a significant blow against corruption.

This ruling aligns with two policy briefs published by LIMS under the APPLE C program, dated June 5, 2024, and December 14, 2023, which exposed the ministry’s efforts to establish a monopoly on OTT services in favor of Stream Media, in clear violation of public procurement laws. LIMS highlighted that the Ministry of Communications had disguised the deal as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with Ogero, Lebanon’s national telecom company, in an effort to circumvent legal scrutiny.

LIMS had consistently argued that restricting OTT services to a single provider would have detrimental effects on Lebanon’s economy and consumers by stifling competition and limiting consumer choice. The ministry’s assertion that Stream Media was the sole available provider was discredited by LIMS, which pointed out that well-established OTT platforms were overlooked in the process.

In its advocacy, LIMS emphasized that OTT services should remain open to all interested parties, free from bureaucratic constraints, to ensure healthy competition and maximize benefits for the economy and citizens alike. This ruling is not only a victory for LIMS but also a critical step towards safeguarding Lebanon’s digital economy from monopolistic practices and corruption.

• LIMS exclusive: Limiting Online TV Broadcasting by “Stream Media” Either Voluntarily or Through Tendering is a Crime Against the Economy and Consumers, July 25, 2024: Limslb, Article AR