The Lebanese cabinet has approved to transfer the management of Alfa and touch from Orascom TMT and Zain respectively, to the ministry of telecommunications while preserving the legal entities of MIC1 and MIC2 to maintain both state-owned companies’ economic and market value and guarantee business continuity. This decision will not affect employees’ status and the services both operators offer to the Lebanese people.
Alfa’s network has been managed by Orascom Telecom, Media and Technology (OTMT) since 2009 and touch has been operating under the management of Zain Group since 2004. Since then, contracts have been repeatedly renewed. After the latest contracts expired, Minister Talal Hawat announced that a tender for new contracts will be launched within 3 months and the ministry will run the networks in the meantime.
