2007
 

- IDM launches new ADSL service  May 2007

Press Release – May 14th  2007

Beirut Monday May 14^th 2007, IDM (www.idm.net.lb) the Leading Internet Service Provider in Lebanon announced today that it is officially launching the ADSL service over regular telephone lines.

The service is available immediately in 10 central offices (COs) Riad el Solh, Achrafieh, Nahr, Ras Beirut, Mina-el-Hosn, Bir-Hassan, Jounieh, Zahle, Saida, Tripoli Mina.

The service will also be made available gradually in the coming weeks over 26 additional COs: Mazraa, Ras el Nabeh, Jounieh, Zouk, Antelias, Jal el dib, Metn Moyen (Mazraet Yachouh, Kornet Chehwane), Broumana, Mansourieh, Dbayeh, Badaro, Justice, Jdeideh. Tripoli Tell, Dora, Sin El Fil, Hazmieh, Dekwaneh, Mreijeh, Amrousieh, Elissar, Aley, Choueifat, Damour, and Chiah.

It is expected that another 60 COs will be ADSL ready in 2008, thus bringing ADSL service to about 90% of the active telephone lines in Lebanon.

In the initial rollout stage, IDM will be offering four plans:

128kbps at $23.99/month, 256 kbps at $33.99/month, 512kbps at $46.99/month and 1Mbps at $76.99/month. The 128Kbps, 256Kbps, 512Kbps, and 1 Mbps plans come respectively with 2GB, 3GB, 4GB and 5 GB of free monthly traffic which is adequate for medium to heavy users. The additional traffic, after the allowed free monthly usage, will be charged at the rate of $0.33 per 10 MB (i.e USD 33 per GB).

The one time activation charge has been set at USD38  for each of the above plans.

Therese Saliba Khairallah, General Manager at IDM said that Lebanon has finally entered into the era of ADSL broadband, customers can subscribe immediately for the ADSL service through IDM website http://www.idm.net.lb, by calling the 24 hours support line 1282 or by visiting IDM sales office in Jisr el Basha. It is important for customers to note that there are three parties involved in order for the customer to obtain the ADSL service: The Data Service Provider (DSP) that installs and operates the DSL infrastructure in the COs, The Ministry of Telecommunications that operates the actual telephone line and the transmission backbone linking the COs, and IDM that is responsible of providing the internet service and interfacing with the customer.  A lot of coordination is needed and many factors come into play for the delivery of the service. Orders will be transmitted to the DSP and to Ogero and will be executed on a first come first serve basis. At the time of applying, customers will be given an estimate of the time of installation provided that the CO is already enabled to accept the ADSL service. Customers will then be updated on regular basis.

Gaby Moubarak, sales manager of IDM added that IDM will be working with all licensed DSPs as well as with OGERO and will always select what is best for its customer. We will work in total transparency and shall keep our customers informed all the time on the progress of their application, the exact dates when the COs will be ADSL enabled as well as all relevant information through our website and call center. IDM will always be updating its packages such as to provide to its customers the best competitive packages with the highest service customers have come to expect from the market leader.

About ADSL
ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line. It shares the same copper line as the telephone service, but it uses a different frequency to carry all the data traffic without interfering with the telephone traffic. ADSL offers customers a consistent, fast, and cost-effective way to optimize usage of the Internet. It enables a near-permanent Internet connection, while leaving the telephone line available for inbound and outbound calls. Moreover, unlike dial-up, connecting to ADSL service will not add expenses on the customer telephone bill.

ADSL is offered to residential customers as well as SMEs (Small to medium enterprises).

In areas where ADSL service is covered, all ADSL applications are subject to a technical assessment conducted by the Ministry of telecommunications to ensure the feasibility of an optimum connection to each and every telephone line using ADSL.

The ADSL connection service only works over a regular analog telephone line; thus making it mandatory to have one.

About IDM
IncoNet- Data Management SAL (IDM) is a Lebanese Internet Service Provider offering Internet access to individual and corporate businesses.

It is one of the first licensed ISP’s in Lebanon and its head office is located in Jisr Al basha Main Street. IDM was established in 1995.

IDM is Lebanon's leading ISP with around 121,500 users representing more than 50% of the Dial-up market segment. IDM also accounts for about 60% of the corporate segment.

IDM offers the following services:

    • Dial up 33K and 56k
    • ISDN 64k and 128k
    • Dedicated access to corporate business (over leased line & Microwave)
    • Broadband for individuals and small businesses (Wireless, fixed and now ADSL)
    • WiFi HotSpots
    • Internet roaming for fixed and WiFi
    • Web design and development
    • Security solutions for corporate and end user
    • 24/7 call center for individuals and dedicated call center for corporate customers