Alfa (Lebanon)

Alfa (or Alfa Telecommunications, Arabic: الفا) is a state-owned[1] Lebanese telecom company, founded in 1994,[2] and one of the two operating GSM networks in Lebanon, the other being touch. Previously managed by Orascom TMT, its management had been transferred to the Telecommunications Ministry in 2020.[3][4]

Alfa
ألفا
TypePrivate/Public
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded1994
HeadquartersLebanon
Area served
Lebanon
Key people
Mr. Jad Nassif
(Chairman & CEO)
Websitewww.alfa.com.lb

History

Alfa is the network name for the Mobile Interim Company 1 (MIC1), founded in 1994[2] under the name of Cellis, managed by France Telecom.

In 2004 the Lebanese government signed a management contract with FAL-DETE to operate the MIC1 network for 4 years. FAL-DETE renamed the Cellis network as Alfa.

In 2009 Orascom took over management of MIC1.[4][5]

In March 2010 Marwan Hayek became the CEO of Alfa.[6] From October 2011, Alfa launched Lebanon's first 3G+ technology, and subsequently were also the first operator in Lebanon to introduce 4G-LTE and 4G+ LTE-A technologies.

According to a report from Zain Group in June 2014, Alfa is reported to have 1.8 million subscribers, the numbers having grown significantly with the influx of over a million Syrian refugees in the previous two and half years.[7]

Following the decision by the Lebanese Government to transfer the operations of telecom company to the government. Orascom Telecom and Alfa CEO Marwan Hayek announced on 8 September 2020 the completion of transfer of MIC 1 to the Lebanese government with the majority of the employees signing new agreement directly with the government on 8 and 9 September.[8]

Shortly after caretaker telecommunications minister Talal Hawat announced a new board of director with Jad Nassif as chairman.[9]

See also

References
  1. "Alfa to close in Tripoli after 'abuse' of staff | News , Lebanon News | THE DAILY STAR". www.dailystar.com.lb. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  2. النور, إذاعة (2010-06-29). "معلومات خطيرة تظهرها التحقيقات الأولية مع العميل الموقوف شربل قزي". إذاعة النور (in Arabic). Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  3. Yassine, Hussein (2020-09-07). "Alfa Is Now Owned By The Lebanese Telecom Ministry". The961. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  4. "شركة 'ألفا' تعود إلى كنف الدولة". annahar.com. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  5. "Alfa throws down gauntlet to MTC Touch". www.commsupdate.com. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  6. "Minister Choucair visits Alfa". Executive Bulletin. 2019-03-21. Retrieved 2021-03-07.
  7. "Connect Me - the Business Year". Archived from the original on 2019-04-07. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  8. "الدولة تتسلم إدارة «ألفا» رسمياً". الأخبار (in Arabic). Retrieved 2020-11-03.
  9. "Alfa Lebanon management officially transferred to the ministry of telecommunications". telecomreview.com. Retrieved 2020-11-03.
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