The telecommunications sector has entered a race against time to maintain network stability and ensure communication across the country in the event of any hostilities.

Official bodies are relying on swift approval from the Cabinet for a special emergency plan to utilize the "Starlink" system.

The Cabinet is preparing for an emergency session next week, with a key item on the agenda being internet access via the satellite system "Starlink."

The upcoming session is expected to provide the Ministry of Telecommunications with a pathway to an alternative internet plan under the pretext of an emergency plan in the event of an expansion of hostilities occurring at the southern borders, particularly if Israel targets the communication infrastructure in Lebanon.

Securing an alternative plan for the telecommunications and internet sector is of paramount importance, preventing the country from being cut off from the world in the event of security developments. However, the rush by caretaker Minister of Telecommunications Johnny Corm, and the remarkable enthusiasm of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati to utilize the Starlink service, which belongs to the American company SpaceX, suggests a management failure in the telecommunications sector as a whole, riddled with favoritism, irregularities, and channels of squander and corruption.

Contrary to the law that mandates the state's management of the telecommunications and internet sector, not private companies, the Ministry of Telecommunications obtained approval from Lebanese security agencies to utilize the Starlink service for a trial period of 3 months, following the American company's approval.

In other words, if the Starlink service is used, internet services in Lebanon would then be subject to the policies of the operating company, SpaceX. This raises the question: What prevents the company from later determining the extent of internet availability in Lebanon in the event of an expansion of the conflict with Israel?

A high-ranking source from the Ministry of Telecommunications confirms that the state will not bear any financial burdens to secure the mentioned service. However, it refuses to clarify the cost of the service and how it will be paid for. Of course, it is unlikely that SpaceX would provide the service for free to Lebanon, especially in the event of a war with Israel, particularly since the company's owner, Elon Musk, previously refused to extend internet services to Gaza after Israel disrupted communications there.

A quick review of the Starlink service reveals a “hidden agenda”. While the Ministry of Telecommunications has leaked to several media outlets that the American company has approved granting Lebanon a trial period, it has remained silent about how the service will be funded. It has also ignored the possibility of utilizing companies that provide similar services.

It is striking that the authorities in Lebanon are rushing to secure the Starlink service at a time when there are other alternatives for ensuring internet connectivity, should networks like Alfa, Touch, and Ogero go offline.

The Executive manager of the organization SMEX Mohammad Najm confirms the presence of V-Sat technology companies in Lebanon and the region, which provide internet services through satellites and can extend internet access through Ogero's central offices.

This would keep internet services under Lebanese sovereignty, according to Najm.

In addition, National Roaming can be utilized, which involves merging the antennas of the Alfa and Touch companies. This would allow any subscriber to access the nearest internet connection, regardless of the company they are with.

Another noteworthy aspect of the alternative internet plan is that the Ministry of Telecommunications and the government have ignored the fact that internet service via satellite is already available in Lebanon, albeit illegally. The rush to utilize Starlink has not addressed the regulation or legalization of the service that is currently attracting new subscribers in Lebanon in an illegal manner.

All political forces, civil society, and state institutions are making preparations to develop alternative plans to address emergency situations and maintain maximum readiness for intervention and assistance to avoid chaos and organizational confusion, as occurred in the first week of the July 2006 war. During that time, the relevant institutions lacked the necessary dynamic emergency plans, leading to confusion and societal and health chaos.