State of Internet access in South-Lebanon

Prepared & presented by Ms. Therese Khairallah

April 2003

Part 1

Introduction, Objectives & Methodology

Part 2

The Covered Region

Part 3

Present State of Internet Access

Part 4

Suggested Solutions & Recommendations

PRESENTATION PLAN

(3 slides)

(6 slides)

(9 slides)

(7 slides)

Presentation Plan - Presentation Plan - Part 1Part 1

Part 2Part 2

Introduction, Objectives & MethodologyIntroduction, Objectives & Methodology

(Total slides = 3)

INTRODUCTION

ESCWA initiative to help in the socio-economic help in the socio-economic

development of the regiondevelopment of the region ESCWA Eight tracks for assistance to the south.

Two of the eight tracks are presently being

implemented.

Donor agencies and countries will respond to

the needs of South Lebanon, which suffered

from 22 years of occupation, so that a

substantial number of these projects will see the

light.

On-site training courses

Mobile ICT training

ICT capacity building for schools

Internet access Internet access

Info. & Com. TrackInfo. & Com. Track

This study is part of: The Eight TracksThe Eight Tracks

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

Review present state of Internet Access in South LebanonReview present state of Internet Access in South Lebanon

Defining types of internet access

Identifying Data and Internet providers, potential users and internet

related projects

Identifying obstacles to Internet services’ deployment

Suggest short and mid-term solutionsSuggest short and mid-term solutions

Commercial & Technical conditions

Potential sources of funding

METHODOLOGY

The covered area as a representative sampleThe covered area as a representative sample: Marjeyoun & Kafarkila: 2 different cases of I&C situation Representative of the unequal Internet state in South-Lebanon

Data collectionData collection based on public and private reports, surveys and interviews communicated by national and regional providers and local key persons

Qualitative SurveyQualitative Survey conducted with local key persons to avoid any bias in our approach and remain close to region expectations

SeminarsSeminars First seminar held in Marja’youn on march 18, 2003

Second seminar held in Kfarkila on march 21, 2003

Study analysis & synthesisStudy analysis & synthesis

Presentation Plan - Presentation Plan - Part 2Part 2

Part 3Part 3

The Covered RegionThe Covered Region

- Geographic location, history and economy (2)

- Infrastructure (2)

- Detailed Map of villages & population (1)

- Zones of influence (1)

(Total slides = 6)

GEOGRAPHIC SITUATION

Location: Location: In the liberated area of South Lebanon representing around 27% of total Lebanese territory (=10,452 km2)

The region covered by the study represents around 5%5% of the south area (= 141 km2)

PopulationPopulation

South-Lebanon’ residents represent around 29% of Lebanese population (= 3,678,000, July 02 estimation)

Residents of covered region represent around 3%3% of South-Lebanon population

South Lebanon

Covered Region

HISTORY & ECONOMY

Recent History Recent History 22 years under Israeli occupation22 years under Israeli occupation (from 1978 & 1982 dates of 1st and 2nd invasion till May 2001date of liberation)

EconomyEconomyDecent economical growth during occupation mainly due to:

Important & of local population working in occupied Palestine.

Businesses depending on the UNIFIL presence

Significant drop of region revenues following territories liberation.

INFRASTRUCTURELocal population had to find

alternatives to the lack of basic infrastructurealternatives to the lack of basic infrastructure

Electricity: Electricity: available but not poor level of services => Installation of local private local private

electricity networkelectricity network to guarantee continuous power supply

Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN)Public Switch Telephone Network (PSTN):

Not operational yet except some analog phone lines installed in selected public organizations (mainly in some municipalities and schools)

Installation of a private switch telephone networkprivate switch telephone network not interconnected with the public one and covering major villages of the covered region.

GSM coverageGSM coverage: Both national companies (LibanCell and Cellis) have decent coverage of the region. However, LibanCell is the only GSM provider to offer GPRS services. No service enhancement is planned due to ongoing privatization process.

INFRASTRUCTUREInternet services are usually directly related to the availability of public

phone lines, which is not the case in the region till date despite repeated promises to install and operate PSTN within few months

Wireless Data coverageWireless Data coverage: 2 licensed providers (CableOne & GDS) over 3

operational in Lebanon (+ Pesco). However, in GDS network, the covered area

needs repeaters to be reached.

Internet ProvidersInternet Providers: all major Lebanese ISP’s are connected to the clouds of

above Wireless data providers, and thus can offer their Internet services, including

Internet download Via-Satellite. However, Wireless networks are their only way to

reach the covered area in the absence of Public STN.

DETAILED MAP

Villages # ResidentsMarjeyoun 1,500 Debbeen 1,000 Blatt 206 Ibl E Saki 1,300 Wazzani 500 El Khyam 8,000 Klayaa 5,000 Burj El Muluk 200 KfarKila 9,000 Deir Meemas 200 Oudaiseh 800 Taybeh 3,000 Total Residents 30,706

Marjeyoun

Khiam

KafarKila

Klayaa

Capital of the casa: Marjeyoun

Biggest agglomeration: Kfarkila followed by Khiam

Significant seasonal variation in number of residents

ZONES OF INFLUENCE

2 different zones of influence2 different zones of influence based on significant dissimilarities in:

Level of urban development

Average Income

Educational & Health level

Zone 1: MarjeyounZone 1: Marjeyoun is the educational and health sector of the whole casa

Zone 2: KafarKilaZone 2: KafarKila is the capital of the south sub-region as the most densely populated area

Present State of Internet Access

Presentation Plan - Presentation Plan - Part 3Part 3

Part 4Part 4

- The Lebanese Internet market (1)

- Available type of connection (1)

- PC’s & Internet in schools and homes(2)

- Internet Cafes & Visitors (1)

- Cable Operators Coverage (2)

- Other Internet Related Projects (1)

- Obstacles for Internet Development (1)

(Total slides = 9)

South-Lebanon represents:

6% of total number of consuming customers 6% of total number of consuming customers (Beirut 01 code represents 40%)

Average consumed hours lower by -20% compared to BeirutAverage consumed hours lower by -20% compared to Beirut

South-Lebanon Internet MarketArea

Nb of consuming customers

%Average

Consumed Hours

%

Beirut 8,387 40% 15 15%Norht-Metn 3,473 17% 10 10%Mont-Liban 2,130 10% 13 13%North 1,735 8% 14 15%South 1,231 6% 12 13%Bekaa 647 3% 14 15%Kesrouwane 3,310 16% 12 13%Other 60 0% 5 5%TOTAL 20,971 100% 94 100%

Source: IDM representative sample during first quarter of 2003

DIAL-UP ACESS DEDICATED ACCESS

PSTN line33.3 - 56 k

Copper leased lineUp to 2 Mbps

Wireless linkUp to 8 Mbps

Cabling

Available types of connection

Internet

ISP

PSTN line GSM lineUp to 128 k

Beyond local means

GSM line Copper leased line Wireless link

Cable operators using wireless technology & private STN to redistribute Internet to villages, internet cafes & home users represented the only remaining solution

Outdoor mallOutdoor mall

Access Point

Wi-Fi link Wired cable link

PC’s & Internet in SchoolsName of school Location NB PCs Internet connection ISP

Marjeyoun Secondary School Marjeyoun 26 YES Terranet 20.30% 40 13.80% 4Marjeyoun Middle School Marjeyoun 10 NO - 5.10% 4 44.00% 11Blatt Middle School Blatt 1 NO - 10.50% 20 80.80% 21Kafar Kila Middle School Kafar Kila 8 NO - 0.40% 1 13.80% 4Khiam 1st Mixed Middle School Khiam 10 NO - 1.70% 3 11.50% 3Khiam Secondary School Khiam 12 NO - 16.50% 17 21.70% 5Teebeh Middle School Teebeh 11 NO - 0.20% 1 2.80% 1Mayss Al Jabal Secondary School Mayss Al Jabal 8 NO - 5.90% 16 8.80% 3Mayss Al Jabal Mixed Elementary Mayss Al Jabal 1 NO - 0% 0 3.70% 1Houla Middle School Houla 9 NO - 0% 0 0% 0Debbeen Mixed Middle School Debbeen 1 NO - 0% 0 21.40% 3

Students Teachers

Most of the local schools have been equipped by PC’sMost of the local schools have been equipped by PC’s trough public and

private funding projects (see annex). However, they suffer from:

Lack of training resources

Low computer literacy of the educational body

No Internet accessNo Internet access (except in Marjeyoun secondary school through dialup access)

PC’s & Internet at homesName of school Location NB PCs Internet connection ISP

Marjeyoun Secondary School Marjeyoun 26 YES Terranet 20.30% 40 13.80% 4Marjeyoun Middle School Marjeyoun 10 NO - 5.10% 4 44.00% 11Blatt Middle School Blatt 1 NO - 10.50% 20 80.80% 21Kafar Kila Middle School Kafar Kila 8 NO - 0.40% 1 13.80% 4Khiam 1st Mixed Middle School Khiam 10 NO - 1.70% 3 11.50% 3Khiam Secondary School Khiam 12 NO - 16.50% 17 21.70% 5Teebeh Middle School Teebeh 11 NO - 0.20% 1 2.80% 1Mayss Al Jabal Secondary School Mayss Al Jabal 8 NO - 5.90% 16 8.80% 3Mayss Al Jabal Mixed Elementary Mayss Al Jabal 1 NO - 0% 0 3.70% 1Houla Middle School Houla 9 NO - 0% 0 0% 0Debbeen Mixed Middle School Debbeen 1 NO - 0% 0 21.40% 3

Students Teachers

Marjeyoun ZoneMarjeyoun Zone: The PC penetration ratio is comparable to ---

KafarKila ZoneKafarKila Zone: Very low computer literacy and penetration (almost absent)

Home Internet usage was limited to some privileged individualsHome Internet usage was limited to some privileged individuals having

through cable providers:

dialup access based on local telephony network

dedicated connection based on wi-fi solution or hybrid (wi-fi + wired cable)

Internet Cafes & VisitorsLow Season High Season

Nb of PCs in Cafes

Nb of PCs in Cafes

Marjeyoun 2 16 20 20-30 1 1

Klayaa 1 4 6 3-5 1 0

Ibl Essaki 2 10 14 5-10 2 0

Khiam 2 26 30 25-35 2 0

Total 7 56 70 53-80 6 1

Cafes Using Dial-up

connection

Cafes connected with Cable Provider

Average number of internet users per day

Nb of Internet Cafes

Towns and Villages

Internet cafes represented the most important access meansmost important access means in the whole region

Currently only one internet café is still offering its servicesonly one internet café is still offering its services in Marjeyoun trough

dialup access. All other cafes connected through Cable operators have been

stopped by Ministry of Telecom in January 2003

The average number of Internet users frequenting all Internet cafes in the region

do not exceed 53 during low season & 80 during high season

Ibl-El-Saki Hibbarieh

Managed by the Second Cable Operator

First Cable Operator Coverage From April 01 till June 02 Mr. Fadi

Harakeh implemented the first internet first internet

cabling networkcabling network

8 villages out of 12

Reaching mainly Internet cafes

Data link provided by CableOne

Internet by Terranet 64:2 kbps

uplink & 512 kbps V-Sat downlink

Despite an acceptable economical

feasibility, operation stopped due to:

Collection problems due to low

purchase power

Tribal and religious divisions

Hasbaya Khiam

Marjeyoun

Klaya’a

Debbine

Ain Kinia

Internet & Data Cloud

Uplink Terranet

Downlink V-sat

Wi-Fi link

Second Cable Operator Coverage

From June 02 till Feb 03, Mr. Abou Antoun

purchased the operation and:

Limited his coverage to 4 villages

Upgraded the link capacity to 128 kbps

uplink & 1.5 Mbps V-Sat downlink

Selling Price: 35$/ user and 50$/ PC Competitive advantage: already installed already installed

private telephony networkprivate telephony network offering

Internet dialup connectivity to individuals

users Operation stopped by the Ministry of stopped by the Ministry of

Telecom for illegality of cabling Telecom for illegality of cabling operationsoperations even if the region has no other

alternative in absence of telephony network.

Marjeyoun

Internet & Data Cloud

Uplink Terranet

Downlink V-sat

Wi-Fi link

Dialup

Marjeyoun

Ibl-El-Saki

Khiam

Wi-FiWi-Fi

Debbine

Local Telephony NetworkLocal Telephony Network

Debbine

Marjeyoun

Individuals

Dialup users

INTERNET DEVELOPMENT OBSTACLES

Non availability of developed infrastructure : No PSTN = Higher

basic necessary investments = High subscription price = Lower Service

Standard

Unclear legalization:

Illegality of cabling when it is the only available solution?

Unclear legal aspect of new Wi-Fi technology?

Limited number of computer installations in Educational, Corporate

and Domicile sectors

Low Computer and Internet literacy especially in Kafarkila Zone

Low Purchase Power ( bad economical conditions after the liberation)

Suggested Solutions & RecommendationsSuggested Solutions & Recommendations

Presentation Plan - Presentation Plan - Part 4Part 4

Back to Presentation PlanBack to Presentation Plan

- Local Solutions (2)

Priority DefinitionShort, Mid, and long term solutions

- Regional Action Plan (5)

Plan overviewFirst Phase

Second PhaseThird Phase

(Total slides = 7)

Village PC Penetration & Literacy Priority 1 Priority 2 Priority 3

Marjeyoun High Infrastructure Amelioration of Access Quality

************

Debbeen Low ICT Training Infrastructure Amelioration of Access Quality

Blat Null ICT Training CIAC Infrastructure

Ibl E Saki Low ICT Training Infrastructure CIAC

Wazzani Null

El Khyam Medium Infrastructure ICT Training CIAC

Klayaa Medium Infrastructure Amelioration of Access Quality

************

Burj El Muluk Medium ICT Training Infrastructure CIAC

KfarKila Low ICT Training CIAC Infrastructure

Deir Meemas Null ICT Training CIAC Infrastructure

Oudaiseh Null ICT Training CIAC Infrastructure

Taybeh Null ICT Training CIAC Infrastructure

SPECIAL PROGRAM FOR HIGHLY ISOLATED AREAS

Priorities for Internet Access Provision Plans

Major Priorities per Village

Defined priorities:Defined priorities:

Infrastructure

ICT training

CIAC: Communal

Internet Access Center

Amelioration of

access quality

ICT Training & CIAC are sponsored during a short term period, but should become financially independent and self sustained afterwards

The twelve villages have been sorted to 5 solution tracks shown in the figure below. Each track is made from three solutions of which:

the first one would constitute the short-term solution

the first and the second together make the mid-term solution

and the three combined represent the long-term solution.

Local Solutions

Solution Track number

Number of concerned

villages

Solution track 1 ICT Training CIAC Infrastructure 5

Solution track 2 ICT Training Infrastructure CIAC 2

Solution track 3 Infrastructure ICT Training CIAC 1

Solution track 4 ICT Training Infrastructure Amelioration of Access Quality 1

Solution track 5 Infrastructure Amelioration of Access Quality ************ 2

Track

Definitions and Details of proposed solution tracks

Overview Of Regional Action Plan

The Conceived action plan is divided into three phases:

First Phase: The elevation of the ICT literacy rateThe establishment of the Computer labs in public schools, and the launch of the Internet Caravan

Second Phase: Providing Internet Connectivity The establishment of the Communal Internet Access Centers

Third Phase: Amelioration of Internet QualityEncouraging ISPs and public institutions to invest in the

improvement of the Internet Quality (Base Station, Leased lines…)

The First Phase –1-

The currently ICT literacy rate is 3% The Required ICT rate is 10%The number of residents targeted by the ICT training is more than 2,400

village # residents# of students

in public schools

Current # of internet users

Required # of internet users

# of trainees ìn public schools

# of trainees in ICT

caravanMarjeyoun 1500 294 300 300 225 0Debbeen 1000 26 30 100 0 104Blatt 200 180 0 20 225 104Ebl Essaki 1300 65 50 130 0 104El Khyam 8000 600 250 800 450 0Klaya'a 5000 60 250 500 0 104Burj El Muluk 200 0 5 20 0 104Kfar Kila 9000 233 5 900 225 104Deir Meemas 200 27 0 20 0 104Oudaiseh 800 25 0 80 0 104Taybeh 3000 650 0 300 450 0Total 30200 2160 890 3170 1575 832

Phase 1: The Elevation of the ICT literacy rate

The First Phase -2-

Phase 1: The Elevation of the ICT literacy rate

 

Villages chosen for Public School Computer Labs (blue circle):

Marjeyoun         Blat          Khiam(2)     Kfar Kila       Taybeh (2) 

Villages chosen for Caravan ICT training (yellow square):

 -         Blat         Debbeen         Ibl Essaki      Klayaa  Burj El Muluk        Deir Mimass-    Kfar Kila         Oudaisseh

The Second PhasePhase 2: Providing Internet Connectivity

Phase 2 includes the establishment of three CIAC in the following villages: -

Taybeh - KfarKila - Khiam

    

Yellow Circle: Internet Café. Red Circle: Intended Communal Access center.      * The connection between villages symbolizes proximity or the ability of the residents of one village to use the services present in the other village. 

The Third PhasePhase 3: Amelioration of Internet Access Quality

Suggestions for:

The establishment of a local base station to provide adequate Internet

access quality (project addressed to Lebanese ISPs)

The provision of Digital and Analogue Leased Lines by the MPT to the

local corporate sector