Lebanon is inching closer to gaining access to Starlink’s satellite internet service, a move that could significantly improve the country’s faltering digital infrastructure and provide a much-needed boost to its private sector.

Kataeb MP Elias Hankach announced Sunday that Starlink has officially placed Lebanon on its service waitlist, marking a key milestone in ongoing talks that began roughly six months ago.

“With serious groundwork already in motion, we’re just weeks away from offering companies, and the broader private sector, a real opportunity to compete regionally, especially in remote services and international markets,” Hankach said in a post on X.

He also credited Telecommunications Minister Charles Hajj for his efforts to advance a more competitive and modern digital economy.

The announcement comes in the wake of a high-level meeting between Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Sam Turner, Starlink’s Global Director of Licensing and Development. According to a statement from the presidency, Turner outlined how Starlink’s satellite technology could enhance connectivity across Lebanon’s industrial, banking, education, commercial, and government sectors.

Economy Minister Amer Bisat expressed similar optimism following his meeting Friday with Starlink’s Middle East and North Africa (MENA) chief. He described the potential arrival of the service as a major upgrade for Lebanon’s private sector, offering “reliable and efficient” internet, and pledged the government's support to help accelerate Starlink’s launch.

But not everyone is on board.

A coalition of local internet service providers (ISPs) voiced alarm over the move, saying they were blindsided by the news. In a letter sent Wednesday to Minister Hajj, the group raised a series of technical, financial, and legal concerns, warning that Starlink’s entry could siphon off at least 25% of their customer base, particularly among corporate and institutional clients, and result in a loss of revenue for the Lebanese state, since payments would be made directly to a foreign company.

The providers called for a regulated entry process and urged the government to impose a legal framework that would hold Starlink to the same standards and obligations as local ISPs. They also argued that Lebanon’s current regulatory environment is ill-equipped to manage the unique challenges posed by satellite internet.

Operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Starlink delivers high-speed, low-latency internet to underserved regions across 136 countries.