RIYADH: Lebanon’s state-owned telecom company Ogero is working to restore and expand the country’s connectivity after experiencing damages due to the Israeli conflict.

The clashes have significantly disrupted Lebanon’s telecom infrastructure, impeding connectivity and slowing the nation’s digital advancement.

Ogero’s Chairman and Director General Imad Kreidieh announced in a live broadcast that the company’s expansion plans will resume, supported by funding from multiple donors.

According to Kreidieh, Ogero connected 221,000 households to fiber-optic Internet in 2024 and plans to add 406,000 new subscribers to the network this year.

The company is also upgrading from Wi-Fi 5, currently used at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport, to Wi-Fi 7. The upgrade will provide speeds of up to 3,500 megabits per second with ultra-low latency of 2— 4 milliseconds. 

The network’s backhaul capacity is being upgraded from 20 gigabits per second to 40 Gbps to support enhanced connectivity, according to Kreidieh.

Ogero is also expanding its LTE infrastructure, increasing the number of stations from 97 to 219 by the end of 2025 and 390 by 2026, which translates to better and wider coverage nationwide. 

The LTE-Advanced capacity will be quadrupled from 10 Gbps to 40 Gbps to enhance performance and service quality.

The top official also said that Ogero will build 215 new stations in the southern and Baalbek regions, which were heavily damaged by Israeli strikes, over the next 24 months, allowing users to regain connectivity.

In a move toward sustainability, Ogero is also implementing solar energy solutions for 358 sites, with a 4-megawatt production capacity and 463 kiloampere-hours storage capacity. The $9.6 million project is expected to generate $8.5 million in annual savings, according to Kreidieh.

Ogero serves as the core of the Ministry of Telecommunications, providing essential infrastructure for all telecom networks, including mobile operators, data service providers, and Internet service providers.

DAVOS: The Middle East, particularly Saudi Arabia, is poised to play a pivotal role in the global energy transition, according to Mark Eramo, co-president of S&P Global Commodity Insights. 

Speaking to Arab News at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Eramo highlighted the region’s growing renewable energy capabilities and its potential to balance traditional energy demands with advancing sustainability goals.

“The renewable energy capabilities in the Middle East are primed to be part of the energy transition and will also continue to support what we would now call traditional energy as it’s needed,” Eramo said.

He emphasized the ongoing importance of energy affordability and security, noting their priority for governments worldwide. 

Eramo said Saudi Arabia, with its growing investments in the renewable energy sector, as well as ammonia production for hydrogen, is poised to emerge as a worldwide leader, adding: “The Kingdom is really positioned well to be an energy transition provider and take a global leadership role in that.”

With this in mind, Eramo highlighted S&P’s significant footprint in the Middle East and said the organization was in the process of expanding its presence in the region, something he said he was “excited about.”

He continued: “I manage S&P Global Commodity Insights and watch closely what is happening in Saudi Arabia and the region is near and dear to the work that we do. It’s a fundamental part of what we’re doing, whether it be downstream chemicals or just fundamental oil and gas and renewable energy. So, our plan is to increase our footprint in the region and be there.” 

Eramo also reflected on the global energy outlook, touching on the implications of potential US policy shifts. 

Under President Donald Trump’s renewed leadership, energy policy in the US is expected to shift toward an emphasis on increasing crude and gas production and expanding export terminal capacity, something which was paused under the administration of Joe Biden.

Citing that Trump this week declared an “energy emergency” in the US, Eramo said that the new administration’s focus on lower energy prices would aim to curb inflation and prioritize security.

Globally, he also noted the varied and pragmatic approach to the pace of energy transition, shaped by differing regional priorities. 

“There are challenges in Europe, Asia Pacific, and South Asia. Each country, whether it’s China or India, will respond differently,” he said. 

“It’s not about whether energy transition is over but understanding that it’s been going on for decades, driven by carbon emission reductions and fuel efficiency advancements,” he added.

Eramo acknowledged the historical resilience of energy players in navigating geopolitical uncertainties, especially in the Middle East in the past two years. 

“I think there’s a long history of geopolitical turmoil in different parts of the world, and I think the major players in energy supply, including in the Middle East, have always found a way to work with their partners — whether in Europe, APAC (Asia-Pacific) or in the Americas — to navigate those waters and respond accordingly,” he said.