- Info

Coworking in the heart of Beirut

nospam@example.com (finkployd) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 01:46:49 +0300

Lebanon is finally entering the knowledge age, with its recent Internet price reductions and upcoming massive infrastructure upgrades.
Just in time, as Beirut's only coworking space opens its doors in Hamra, the building just before the Central Bank, with the fastest Internet connection you can walk into.

Work it harder, make it better. Daft Punk

Coworking is a style of work which involves a shared working environment, sometimes an office, yet independent activity. Unlike in a typical office environment, those coworking are usually not employed by the same organization. Typically it is attractive to work-at-home professionals, independent contractors, or people who travel frequently who end up working in relative isolation.

Coworking in Beirut is now possible! For just 14 USD a day, you can co-work in Lebanon's state-of-the-art internet startup accelerator, Seeqnce, alongside entrepreneurs, professionals, students, and freelancers. Seeqnce's State-of-the-Art facilities are open 6 days a week for coworking. Featuring the fastest internet connection you can walk into, writable walls and desks, a zen lounge, and a full kitchen.

Seeqnce is ideally located in Hamra, at the heart of Beirut, and just 10 minutes walking distance from the American University of Beirut, downtown Beirut, and the famous Beirut corniche.

Apply now to cowork at Seeqnce: https://www.facebook.com/Seeqnce?sk=app_153791278050386

tags: beirut, lebanon, hamra, central bank, banque du liban, aub, lau, haigazian, student, professional, freelancer, coworking, hackerspace, seeqnce, startup accelerator, lounge, internet, facebook, application, cowork

Ogero finally falls in line the Laws of the Republic of Lebanon

nospam@example.com (finkployd) — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:33:29 +0300

Ogero finally falls in line with the Laws of the Republic of Lebanon.

http://www.lbci.com.lb/NewsDetails.aspx?ID=5097

3G is go!

DSL+ is go!

2nd Floor is reclaimed!

read this for the backstory:

http://www.bloggingbeirut.com/archives/1767-ISF-stages-coup-on-the-Ministry-of-Telecom-on-behalf-of-Ogero.html

tags: telecom minister, nicolas sehnaoui, lebanon, beirut, lebanese, government, ogero, ministry of telecom, adlieh, abdelmenhem youssef, 3g, dsl, infrastructure, internet, mobile, law, legal, beirut

ISF stages coup on the Ministry of Telecom on behalf of Ogero?

nospam@example.com (finkployd) — Thu, 26 May 2011 15:08:11 +0300

two weeks ago we reported the existence of an 'unknown' third mobile network (Ogero Mobile) operating in Lebanon:

http://www.bloggingbeirut.com/archives/1764-LBN-OGERO-Mobile-41505-Conspiracy-Theory.html

when the Ministry of Telecommunications went to investigate this unlicensed, unreported, and 'illegal' mobile network (Ogero Mobile), this is what happened:

The Daily Star: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Local-News/2011/May-26/Police-prevents-Nahhas-from-entering-sealed-off-room.ashx

BEIRUT: Caretaker Telecoms Minister Charbel Nahhas accused Thursday a branch of the Internal Security Forces of unlawfully preventing him access to facilities linked to the Telecoms Ministry.

Describing the act as a coup, Nahhas said some 400 heavily-equipped members from the ISFs Information Branch have also banned employees from entering the second level of the building attached to the ministry in Adliyeh, east of Beirut.

Nahhas said rooms on the second floor, which contained communications equipment donated to Lebanon, were sealed off since Friday.

This a coup by the Information Branch, Nahhas told a news conference at the ministry shortly after the incident which was aired live on a local television station.

Under the law, this act is considered a mutiny, Nahhas said, laying the blame on ISF chief Maj. Gen. Ashraf Rifi.

He said Rifi had taken a unilateral decision to deny access to ministry employees, adding that caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Baroud had no knowledge of the decision.

Nahhas, a member of Michel Aouns Free Patriotic Movement, also said he was waiting for the withdrawal of the police unit after they had been ordered by Baroud to do so.

Naharnet: http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/7030-security-forces-prevent-nahhas-and-technical-team-from-dismantling-ogero-station

Security forces prevented on Thursday caretaker Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas, several directors at the ministry, and a technical team from entering one of the ministrys buildings at the Adlieh area.

Sources told Naharnet, that the minister and the technical team headed to the building in order to dismantle a mobile phone station belonging to Ogero Telecom.

The station, which was operating under a trial period, was presented as a gift from the Chinese government to Ogero a few months ago.

Ogero Telecom General Director Abdul Monem Youssef had previously informed Nahhas that he has no right to dismantle the station and transfer it to the MTC mobile phone operating company.

Any modification to the donation agreement between Ogero and the Chinese government would require approval by Cabinet, he added.

The telecommunications minister disregarded this fact and insisted on dismantling the station, he said.

Nahhas headed to the building at Adlieh Thursday morning where he was confronted by the security forces who informed him that he may enter the station, but without the technical team, Youssef clarified.

The minister later held a press conference recounting the mornings developments, describing the practices at the ministry as a coup, led by the Internal Security Forces.

He urged the army leadership to suppress the ISF coup, saying that the Intelligence Bureau is refusing to implement caretaker Interior Minister Ziad Barouds order to pull security forces out of the ministry building.

Now Lebanon: http://nowlebanon.com/NewsArticleDetails.aspx?ID=274928

Telecommunications Minister Charbel Nahhas said Thursday that Internal Security Forces (ISF) Information Branch personnel have occupied a building owned by the Telecommunications Ministry in the Adliyeh area of Beirut and are mounting a coup against the states authority.

In a press conference broadcast on OTV, Nahhas said that ISF personnel had taken over the second floor of the building and prevented his ministrys technical teams from performing routine maintenance work.

Interior Minister Ziad Baroud was not aware of the situation and, once notified by the telecommunications minister, issued an order requiring the personnel to leave the building, Nahhas said.

He said that he visited the building on Thursday morning and encountered 400 armed personnel, military and civilian, with their weapons ready when he tried to go up to the second floor.

He stated that these units have not left the building and are therefore rebelling against the state, accusing the ISF Directorate-General of defying the Interior Ministrys orders.

tags: Lebanon, telecom, Ministry of Telecommunications, Ogero, MoT, Nahas, minister, Youssef, Lebanese, politics, video, youtube, image, instagram, Ogero Mobile, coup, ISF, Internal Security Force, force, Interior Ministry, Baroud, Rifi, Naharnet, Daily Star, Now Lebanon, OTV, illegal, armed, hostile, takeover, #FlipTheSwitch, #Ontornet, Flip The Switch

Lebanese Spammers Outed - Blacklist them now!

nospam@example.com (finkployd) — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:44:15 +0300

What do Digital ITS, Moursel, eCAMM, ePublicities, and Right Services have in common? They're all spammers -for- hire!

These companies have been sending me over 100 spam emails a day. I never subscribed or registered for their services.

Blacklist them on your servers. File them as Spam. Block their IPs (see below). Let's take them down once and for all.

If nothing else, perhaps this will discourage the many legitimate companies that are using these services to stop paying to dollar for spam-folder bound emails.

Moursel Lebanon http://www.mourselmailer.com/

MourselMailer.com is an EMail service launched in 2009 by Ourjouwan.com SARL

Moursel
Lebanon, Beirut
t - 961 1 870 123
e - info@moursel.com

Digital ITS http://www.digitalits.com/

Lebanon, Santa Maria Plaza Center, 3rd floor,
Hadath - Lebanon
Tel / Fax: +961 5 464323
Email: info@digitalits.com

eCAMM http://www.ecammnet.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi

ePublicities http://epublicities.com/

Right Services http://www.therightmail.com/index.php

Powered by Right Mail a division of Right Service ® for digital marketing
International Main Road | Louaize Center | Near Pharmacy Bennani | Louaize Baabda, LEBANON
Tel / fax : +961 5 922353 | P.O.Box : 45-120

------------------------- a few IPs to blacklist - list incomplete, please contribute ----------------------

64.120.152.5
64.120.152.6
64.120.152.7
64.120.152.8
64.120.152.9
64.191.102.5
64.191.102.6
64.191.102.7
64.191.102.8
64.191.102.9
64.191.12.165
64.191.12.166
64.191.12.167
64.191.12.168
64.191.12.169
64.191.81.149
64.191.81.150
64.191.81.151
64.191.81.152
64.191.81.153
66.197.156.149
66.197.156.150
66.197.156.151
66.197.156.152
66.197.156.153
66.197.156.154
66.197.156.155
66.197.156.156
66.197.156.157
66.197.156.158
66.197.163.5
66.197.163.6
66.197.163.7
66.197.163.8
66.197.163.9
66.197.196.37
66.197.196.38
66.197.196.39
66.197.196.40
66.197.196.41
66.197.204.213
66.197.204.214
66.197.204.215
66.197.204.216
66.197.204.217
85.234.144.111
96.9.136.82
96.9.136.83
96.9.136.84
96.9.136.85
96.9.136.86
96.9.136.87
96.9.136.89

------------------------------------------------

tags: Lebanon, spam, spammer, eCAMM, Lebanese, email, Digital ITS, Right Service, Right Mail, ePublicities, blacklist, RBL, e-mail, Moursel

Ministry of Telecommunications - Meeting 1 - Flip The Switch - May 12 2011

nospam@example.com (finkployd) — Tue, 17 May 2011 17:21:06 +0300

Disclaimer: The notes below are provided as is from the meeting, without fact checking. These notes reflect - verbatim - the answers to the questions asked during the meeting.

Meeting 1

Ministry of Telecommunications

May 12 2011

Vision: make Lebanon the Arab Worlds internet hub, building an internet surplus (not deficit, as currently is the case), which will be sold to the Arab World

Current Projects:
o IMEWE (done, pending signature of Ogero to launch)
o National fiber backbone, connecting major cities (in progress, started 2 months ago)
o 3G 4G
 HSPA+ covering Lebanon
 LTE covering Beirut
 Huawei MTC Touch
 Ericsson - Alfa
 Contracts acquired in open bidding process at half original cost of (35M USD vs 75M USD)
o International fiber links
 JADI (Jeddah, Amman, Damascus, Istanbul)
 Cadmous
 Tartous
o Local fiber
1. FTTx: made a call for requests by large institutions who need fiber now for at least 100 Mbps, only received 12 applicants!
2. FTTh: 2012

Pricing:
o New pricing matrix has been drafted, awaiting government formation and Council of Ministers to implement
o Pricing matrix aims to reduce prices by at least 40%
o E1 pricing should come close to 600 USD
o Pricing reductions are always slowed down by the Ministry of Finance (as is currently the case, and was the case during the pricing reductions on the cellular services a couple of years ago)
o Ministry of Finance is not willing to reduce prices due to fear of loss of income that is being used to finance the public debt.
o FYI: Telecom revenues finance over 40% of the public debt

Services:
o Planning Triply Play via new infrastructure

Speed:
o Aiming to raise the average internet speed to 10 Mbps by end of 2011

Privatization:
o Privatization is not in the best interest of the government, as it needs the telecom sector to continue financing its public debt.

Law 431:
o The law is outdated, and needs to be revised, for example voice is separated from data, which is the reason behind most of the VOIP crackdown weve witnessed in the past few years
o The law has never been implemented fully, and thus is problematic in that it is being used by the Shura Council to selectively pass or block specific decisions

TRA:
o Previous TRA head was at odds with MoT
o Current TRA head is working together with MoT
o TRA self-financing target not met, MoT still finances TRA

Ogero:
o Is the execution arm of the MoT, and thus without the cooperation of Ogero, many projects cannot be executed, including turning on the IMEWE
o Many projects, services, installations, and activities are on hold due to stalemate between Ogero and MoT
o Ogero Head is appointed by the Council of Ministers

LBN OGERO Mobile 41505
o 2G network built with donated Huawei equipment in 2008/2009
o Operating without a license, purpose and activities unknown to MoT

People to Talk to:
o Mr. Tony Hanna
o Dr. Chebaro
o Mr. Imad Abi Rashed

IMEWE: yes, flipping the switch will result in immediate increase in quality of service, even if there is no government to reduce prices (need for Council of Ministers)

MoT financing: Ministry of Finance has limited financing of MoT projects, and thus MoT is self-financing most of its new projects, seeing as it is a cashflow positive ministry

Priority Next Steps:
 Increase awareness about open call for FTTx requests for large entities needing over 100 Mbps
 Increase awareness about MoT activities, projects, vision, and mission

Your Questions to Lebanon's Internet Administrators

nospam@example.com (finkployd) — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:25:33 +0300

I will be scheduling meetings with:

Mr. Antoine Boustani (MoT)
Mr. Mahmoud Haidar (MoT)
Mr. Kamal Bou Farhat (MoT)
Dr. Imad Abi Rached (Ogero)
Dr. Imad Hoballah (TRA)

Regarding the prices from the MOT-Ogero to the ISPs which currently are at 2,700 USD per E1 per Month or 1,350 USD per Mbps per Month, this should be resolved by a Decree from the MOT and the Ministry of Finance; It is really a Lebanese Government initiative; You cannot blame one person or one party.

Regarding the connectivity from Lebanon to the outside, we have the cables:

1- CADMOS: 40 Gbps currently from Lebanon to Cyprus (ON)
2- IMEWE: 120 Gbps from Lebanon to France (OFF)
3- Berytar to Syria (?)
4- Terrestrial to Syria and Syria is connected to JADI and to RCN (?)

Also, the MOT has contracted recently for:
1- Fiber project of 4,000 KM of Fiber inside Lebanon to CET and Alcatel-Lucent;
2- DWDM contract to Ericsson to light up that fiber;
3- 3G contract of Alfa Mobile to Ericsson;
4- 3G contract of MTC Touch to Huawei;
5- Ongoing tender for FTTH;

The RFS date of the 3G is for July 2011; so we are technically as good as the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar but we need 20% efforts to light up all these capacities and provide them to the end user at good rates.

Post all your questions here.

from: Flip The Switch Group: http://on.fb.me/FlipTheSwitchGroup