Lebanon Ministry of Telecommunications may cancel flexible credit transfers

Lebanon's Ministry of Telecommunications is reportedly considering the cancellation of the ‘Credit Transfer’ service. This feature currently allows mobile users to purchase specific amounts of credit, such as individual dollars or specific numbers of days, rather than being forced to buy full-value prepaid cards.

Reports suggest that eliminating this flexibility would require low-income subscribers to purchase larger, pre-set denominations that may exceed their immediate financial needs. This move has caused confusion within the ministry and among service providers Alfa and Touch, with some officials denying the existence of such a plan while others suggest the decision-making process lacks transparency.

The potential change comes amid high telecommunications costs in Lebanon. According to the International Telecommunication Union, the cost of a standard 5GB mobile internet basket in Lebanon represents 3.03% of the monthly per capita national income, significantly higher than the global median of 1.4%.