On June 26, businessman Elon Musk—founder and chief executive of SpaceX, the company behind Starlink’s satellite‑internet constellation—had a phone call with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun during which he expressed interest in entering Lebanon’s telecommunications and internet sectors. This followed a meeting on May 29 between President Aoun, the Minister of Telecommunications, and Starlink’s Global Licensing Director to discuss integrating Lebanon into the Starlink network.

LIMS explained that the engagement of Starlink with Lebanon has the potential to resolve the country’s chronic internet problems. By delivering broadband directly from low‑Earth‑orbit satellites, Starlink can provide immediate, nationwide coverage without relying on costly and ineffective terrestrial infrastructure of Lebanon. This would reduce latency for cloud services and other digital businesses, making the market more attractive to foreign investors and encouraging Lebanese expatriates to return or manage ventures locally rather than establishing them abroad where connectivity is more reliable. The improvement in internet service would also address a long‑standing barrier that has forced highly skilled Lebanese graduates to leave the country and set up digital and technology companies elsewhere because of unreliable broadband.

LIMS advocates fully opening the sector to competition, allowing any company to operate in Lebanon. While Starlink is a must, it should be followed by breaking Ogero’s monopoly on telecommunications so that multiple firms can compete, benefiting consumers through higher quality service and lower prices.

Some existing operators see Starlink as a threat and resist change by citing security concerns. LIMS argues that the security situation remains largely unchanged: because Starlink could theoretically grant satellites access independently to users, and the government cannot stop them. The company’s decision to cooperate with the state—allocating revenues and complying with security and privacy requirements—formalizes a partnership that restarins operational risks.

• Despite Government Approval, The Stock Exchange Privatization Project In Lebanon Is Still Stalled! May 14, 2025: CNBC, Video Interview AR
• “Public Procurement” Back To The Forefront: Legal “Antidotes” Make Corruption More Resistant To Reform, May 20, 2025: Al Safa News, Article AR
• The Economic Situation Shakes the Social Structure, and the Solution Is in Growth Secured by the Elimination of Monopolies, June 23, 2025: Nida Al Watan, Article AR
• The State Is “The First Monopolist” And The Problem Is Not In The Applied Texts But In The Souls, June 24, 2025: VDL, Video Interview AR
• Elon Musk In Lebanon: Attracting Investments Amid Security Exposure? June 30, 2025: Al Modon, Article AR