Lebanon Grants Starlink Licence to Boost Telecoms

Lebanon has granted a license to Elon Musk's Starlink to provide satellite internet services across the country after about six months of negotiations, marking a significant shift from the previous state-run internet provision. The service, initially targeting businesses with packages starting at $100 per month, aims to address Lebanon's notoriously slow and unstable internet, often hampered by power outages. Starlink's entry follows Musk's direct engagement with President Joseph Aoun in June, expressing interest in improving Lebanon's telecommunications sector. Despite opposition from state-owned providers, the Lebanese cabinet approved the license, recognizing the potential for Starlink to enhance internet access for various institutions and companies. Starlink, already operational in several Middle Eastern countries, offers an alternative to traditional fiber-optic and mobile connections, which have suffered disruptions in the region. This development aligns with Musk's broader efforts to expand Starlink globally, including recent US government approvals related to Starlink equipment sales to Ukraine.