IDM Clarification  on Security on the Lebanese Internet (May 2005)

Dear IDM users,
We have received a number of requests asking details about the Internet routing out of Lebanon. In answer to those queries, we would like to clarify the following facts:

1- Lebanon has currently two Fiber Optic routes to the Internet. The first one goes to the UK through Cyprus, and the second one goes to the US through Tartous in Syria and Alexandria in Egypt. This second link was taken by the Ministry of Telecommunications (MOT) for redundancy purposes on the fiber level.

By the law, all Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in Lebanon lease full duplex fiber capacity from the MOT and have satellite receivers for download traffic, therefore the traffic arrives to ISPs through a combination of satellite and fiber.

2- Furthermore, IDM, having multiple fiber optic links, mixes the traffic randomly among those links, which reduces if not eliminates, the possibility of 'listening' to a complete data conversation or controlling the data flow, add to the above that mail traffic is sent through the UK circuits.

We hope that the above clarifies the matter.

For further information or clarifications, do not hesitate to contact our support at 01 23 77 00
E-mail: support@idm.net.lb

Best Regards
IDM sal