More than 100 private companies in Lebanon are now paying for Starlink satellite internet through Alfa, and the mobile operator has ordered 500 more devices to serve businesses still sitting on its waiting list.
Alfa presented the figures on Wednesday, November 4, at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam at the Grand Serail in Beirut. Alfa Chairman and CEO Rafic El Haddad led the briefing. Also in the room were Minister of State for Administrative Reform Fadi Makki, Telecommunications Regulatory Authority chair Jenny Gemayel, and Bassel Al Ayoubi, Director General of Investment and Maintenance, representing Telecommunications Minister Charles Hage.
From Rmeish to Banque du Liban: Who Got Connected First
Alfa signed its official distribution agreement with Starlink on September 18, 2026, once all regulatory and security approvals were in place. Its first phase focused on the state and on services that cannot afford to go offline.
In that phase, the service went live for 37 entities: 20 ministries, public institutions and security agencies, including Ogero and Banque du Liban, plus 11 hospitals, 3 embassies, 2 NGOs and Rmeish Municipality. Rmeish, in South Lebanon, was the very first activation Alfa completed.
Phase two opened the service to eligible private companies and institutions. Businesses can now apply through a dedicated page on Alfa's website and pick the package that fits them.
$550 Up Front, Then $2,100 a Year
Alfa offers two packages, both paid annually in advance. The smaller one gives 500 GB of data per month for $2,100 a year, which works out to $175 a month. The larger one offers 1 TB per month for $3,588 a year, or $299 a month.
On top of either plan, the Starlink device costs a one-time $550. All prices exclude VAT. Alfa provides technical support in coordination with Starlink, and the equipment comes with a 12-month warranty.
Every subscription also feeds public finances. Under the approved licensing framework, 25% of Starlink subscription revenue goes to the Lebanese state, separately from equipment sales.
A Backup Line, Not a Replacement
Salam was clear that satellite internet is meant to sit alongside Lebanon's existing networks, not take their place. He said the government's original goal last year was to bring connectivity to areas with no telecom infrastructure, and that the service now also gives companies a fallback when networks go down.
"No entity, particularly businesses and local or potential investors, should face the risk of losing communications due to an interruption in telecommunications services," he said.
He added that upgrading the existing networks remains the government's job, and that Starlink holds no exclusive rights in Lebanon. The government is also in talks with OneWeb about a competing satellite service, which Salam said works differently but offers similar solutions.
Alfa's Four-Year Plan and the Numbers Behind It
El Haddad presented Starlink as one part of a four-year digital transformation plan built with the Ministry of Telecommunications. That plan covers network upgrades, the introduction of 5G, new digital services and the use of artificial intelligence in network management and customer service.
He also shared financial results. According to El Haddad, Alfa raised its contributions to the Lebanese Treasury by 14% in 2025 and expects a further 10% increase in 2026.
Alfa lost around 150 skilled engineers during the crisis years, he said, yet its Lebanese teams kept the network running and kept launching new services. The company is presenting the whole effort under the theme "Lebanon, Connected."
"The true value of technology is measured not only by how advanced it is but also by its ability to reach people and make a meaningful difference in their lives," El Haddad said.
Alfa
